Babar Azam on Thursday crafted one of his most memorable Test innings in months—an 88-run knock against the West Indies—but what could have been a triumphant moment instead deepened a frustrating yawning gap in his Test hundred tally. His dismissal, a gutting run-out just 12 runs shy of a century, now stretches his century drought past 1,300 days.
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## A Fight to Reach the Unreachable
Batting alongside Abdullah Shafique, Babar battled early setbacks to revive Pakistan’s innings after two early wickets. His 88 off 147 balls, peppered with ten boundaries and a single six, came with a solid partnership of 183 for the third wicket. He seemed in control—weathering the new ball, mastering the spin, building his rhythm.
That measured effort made the collapse all the more heartbreaking.
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## The Cruel Cut-Off Point
Back on the crease after having surmounted most of the toughest phases, Babar was just 12 runs from a landmark. The situation looked familiar: close but never quite over the line. Then came a risky run, followed by a desperate dive. He hurled himself forward, bat extended, racing for safety. But replays told the worst story—short. And with that, the stumps were shattered, West Indies celebrated, and Babar remained grounded.
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## A Drought That’s Only Growing
In striking 88, Babar came closer than ever to ending a wait that began on December 26, 2022, when he struck 161 in Karachi against New Zealand. Since then, 1,317 days have passed—three years, seven months, and nine days—without another Test century.
While he’s posted several fifties and passed through stages that once promised a hundred, none have led to those three digits until now. That 88 remains not just his highest since that 161 in December 2022, but the first big knock in years that came within a whisker of the elusive milestone.
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## The Bigger Picture: Reputation vs Reality
Once hailed for his ability to transform starts into imposing innings—and praised for his consistency—Babar’s Test cricket conversion rate has drawn scrutiny. Hundreds were once the backbone of his reputation; now, they’re cited in every tally that remains painfully unmet. His reputation built upon not only elegance but endurance—batting patiently, constructing big partnerships, and reaping the rewards. That trait, fans and analysts agree, has been noticeably absent lately.
Across formats, relief did arrive. He ended his international drought in November 2025 with an unbeaten ODI ton against Sri Lanka. Yet in Test cricket, by far his preferred format for legacy-building, the odometer refuses to budge.
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## When a Score Becomes More Than Numbers
On August 4, 2026, Pakistan looked to be in the driver’s seat against West Indies, thanks largely to Babar’s composed innings. As the team edged closer to the West Indies’ total, Babar seemed in a zone—the kind that precedes milestones. Spin or pace, he negotiated it well. Then came that crucial moment—just a run, a slide, a dice. The “desperate dive” was his last shot at bringing the hundred home.
When the replay confirmed he hadn’t made it, Babar remained kneeling, helmet low, spender of so much emotional currency on a single shot. Those final seconds held more than just a dismissal—they embodied the weight of history and missed chances.
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## Near Misses That Sting
For Pakistan, Babar’s 88 was no small effort. It revived the innings, shifted momentum, put the side within range of challenging the West Indies. Still, each meaningful start in these drought years carries the burden of the historic gap it refuses to close. A fifty is now a reminder of a hundred missed; an eighty feels like a promise unfulfilled.
With this knock, Babar showed signs of return—patience, fluency, discipline. Yet without that three-digit mark, the narrative only tightens around what hasn’t happened. Each near-miss digs a little deeper into frustration.
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## Looking Ahead
Despite the heartbreak, this innings carries value. In it lies evidence that Babar is edging back toward his best.
– He’s staying longer at the crease
– He’s constructing significant partnerships
– He’s batting with maturity before the rush
These are the prerequisites of big scores. And while 88 falls short, it may stand as a turning point. Until that hundred comes, however, every at-bat near the line will open old wounds and stir public conversation about what should have been.
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