“Yeh Out Hay”: Ramiz Raja’s Hot Mic Moment Puts Babar Azam on Blast

Hot mics and Babar Azam in the same sentence? How did that happen? In the digital age, you’d think commentators and former cricket legends would know that every microphone is a live one. But alas, some lessons are learned the hard way. The latest victim of this classic blunder is none other than Ramiz Raja, the former PCB chairman turned commentator, who decided to add a little extra spice to the Pakistan vs. South Africa Test match in Lahore. And by spice, I mean some Grade-A, unfiltered sass aimed directly at star batter Babar Azam.

The moment of truth—or rather, the moment of accidental honesty—unfolded in a way that was almost poetic in its dramatic timing. Azam, already feeling the heat of a rough patch, found himself in a precarious spot.

What Exactly Went Down in Lahore?

Picture this: It’s the first day of the Test match at Gaddafi Stadium. Pakistan is hosting South Africa, and the pressure is palpable. In the 49th over, Babar Azam, clinging on with just one run to his name, gets a devastating “out” call for a supposed catch behind off Senuran Muthusamy’s spin. For any batter, especially one of Azam’s caliber, this is a gut-wrenching moment. The walk back to the pavilion looms.

So, what does he do? What any modern cricketer with a lifeline would do: he signals for the Decision Review System (DRS). It’s a standard play, a moment of suspense where technology gets the final say. But as the world waited for the slow-motion replays, Ramiz Raja, presumably thinking his commentary was off-air, served up a hot take for the ages.

Through a stray broadcast microphone, Raja’s voice cut through with cynical clarity: “yeh out hay, drama karega” which translates to, “this is out, now he’ll do drama.” Ouch. Just when you thought the on-field action was tense, the commentary box delivered a zinger that sent shockwaves across social media.

The Sweet, Sweet Irony of the DRS

Here’s where the story gets really juicy. After Raja’s cynical prediction of “drama,” the third umpire went to work. The replays rolled, the snickometer was consulted, and lo and behold—there was no edge. The ball had missed the bat entirely. The on-field umpire’s decision was overturned, and Babar Azam was safe. The so-called “drama” turned out to be a player correctly using the system to reverse a wrong call. You just can’t write this stuff.

Of course, this delicious slice of irony was not lost on the fans. The clip of Raja’s comment exploded online faster than a Shaheen Afridi yorker. The Babar Azam faithful, a legion strong, descended upon X (formerly Twitter) with the fury of a thousand suns, defending their captain and calling out Raja for what they saw as a blatant and disrespectful jab.

For a man who once helmed the entire Pakistan Cricket Board, it was a shockingly amateur move. Forgetting your mic is on is one thing; using that moment to throw shade at your country’s top player is another level of face-palm entirely.

Was Raja’s Frustration Justified?

To be fair, let’s add a smidge of context. Pakistan’s batting lineup had been about as stable as a Jenga tower in an earthquake. After a solid 161-run opening stand from Imam-ul-Haq (93) and Shan Masood (76), the middle order decided to collectively take a nap, collapsing from 163-1 to 199-5. Azam walked in at a critical juncture, and the weight of a nation’s expectations was squarely on his shoulders.

Unfortunately for him, his reprieve was short-lived. He was later dismissed by Simon Harmer for a painstaking 23 off 48 balls, continuing a lean run that has had fans and pundits alike wringing their hands. It took a heroic, unbeaten 114-run partnership from Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha to salvage the day, leaving Pakistan at a respectable 313-5.

So, was Raja’s comment just a moment of raw, unfiltered frustration from a guy who lives and breathes Pakistan cricket? Probably. Does that make it any less savage? Absolutely not. It’s the kind of blunt, behind-the-scenes thought you might share with a buddy at a sports bar, not broadcast to millions of viewers.

Ultimately, the incident serves as a hilarious, if slightly cringey, reminder: in the world of live sports, the walls have ears, the mics are always listening, and you should probably save your spiciest takes for when you’re definitely off the air. As for Babar Azam, he got the last laugh on the DRS call, even if his innings didn’t quite pan out.