Watch: Adam Zampa’s Cool Reply To Awkward Babar Azam Question After Lahore T20I

Australia leg-spinner Adam Zampa produced a standout spell with the ball in Lahore – and then delivered an equally memorable moment off the field with his reaction to an oddly framed question about Babar Azam after the first Pakistan–Australia T20I. Zampa trapped Babar LBW and finished with four wickets, but it was his calm, slightly bemused exchange with a reporter that quickly went viral among fans.

Zampa’s wicket of Babar and the strange question

Babar Azam walked in at No. 4 for Pakistan and made 24 off 20 balls, hitting one four and a six, but never quite broke free against Australia’s spinners. Facing Zampa, he attempted a reverse sweep to a back-of-a-length ball outside off, missed, and was struck on the pad. The on-field umpire turned down the LBW appeal, only for Zampa to convince his captain to review; ball-tracking showed it crashing into the stumps, and the decision was overturned.

After the game, a reporter asked Zampa:

“You took the wicket of premier Pakistan batter Babar Azam. So how is your feelling now?”

Zampa looked puzzled and checked he’d heard correctly:

“How do I feel getting Babar Azam out?”

When the reporter repeated the question, Zampa again sought clarity – “On that getting him out? Is that your question?” – before finally giving a measured answer.

Zampa’s composed, pointed response

Once he understood the question, Zampa downplayed any hype around that one dismissal while still showing respect for Babar’s stature. He replied:

“Yeah, he is a very good player for a long time, but… yeah… I mean… It’s not the first time I have got him out. I hope it’s not the last but it’s always good to get big wicket. It’s what I am in team for.”

The stoic delivery, combined with the slightly awkward nature of the question, left social media calling it a “dumb” or poorly worded query, with some clips highlighting how Zampa almost couldn’t believe what he was being asked. The moment worked as a reminder that top bowlers see even big-name wickets as part of their job, not as something to gush over every time.

How the match unfolded in Lahore

Despite Zampa’s brilliant spell, Pakistan took a 1–0 lead in the three-match T20I series.

• Pakistan posted 168 for 8 after choosing to bat first.

• Sahibzada Farhan fell first ball, but Saim Ayub (40 off 22) and Salman Agha (39 off 27) stitched a 74-run stand off 46 balls to revive the innings.

• Regular wickets in the back end meant Pakistan finished just under 170.

For Australia, Zampa was comfortably the best bowler, returning 4 for 24 in his four overs and removing both set batters as well as Babar. In the chase of 169, Pakistan’s spin attack took control:

• Saim Ayub and Abrar Ahmed picked up two wickets each.

• Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan took one each as Australia were held to 146 for 8.

Pakistan eventually sealed a 22-run win, ending an eight-year T20I drought against Australia and taking early control of the series.

Pakistan vs Australia, 1st T20I – Key numbers