LAHORE — Star Pakistani batsman Babar Azam has completed 3,000 runs in the T20 International matches.
After achieving this milestone, Babar has become the fifth men’s player and eighth overall in this format. Also, Babar has levelled Indian batsman Virat Kohli’s record, who was the quickest to achieve this milestone.
Babar became the first Pakistan batsman to score 3,000 T20I runs in the sixth T20I match of the seven-match series against England. Babar scored a half-century against England on Friday.
Majestic 8️⃣7️⃣ not out
Captain @babarazam258 led from the front.#PAKvENG | #UKSePK pic.twitter.com/D72m3oCO3E
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 30, 2022
As Pakistan had rested opening batsman Mohammad Rizwan for the match, it was Babar who was supposed to take the responsibility and give Pakistan a solid start.
The Pakistani skipper played the anchor role even though Pakistan lost a couple of wickets early in the powerplay. Hitting 25 off 19 balls in the first six overs, Babar completed his 29th score of fifty or more in the T20I format.
3️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ T20I runs for @babarazam258 ✅
He is the joint fastest to the milestone in 81 innings and only the fifth batter to cross the landmark figure 👏#PAKvENG | #UKSePK pic.twitter.com/ZY4TnYKJIp
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 30, 2022
Babar finished the innings with an unbeaten 87 off 59 balls. He accelerated in the end overs after making his half-century in 41 balls. Babar’s aggression in the later part of his innings helped Pakistan to reach 169 in 20 overs at the loss of 6 wickets at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Friday.
The latest achievement has put Babar on the elite list of T20I batsmen in the 3,000-run club. Star Indian batsmen Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli head this elite club in men’s T20Is with more than 3,000 runs each. Others in the club are Martin Guptill and Paul Stirling.
HOT TOPICS: Another leaked audio of Imran Khan triggers storm on social media
Babar scored 3,000 runs in 81 innings, levelling Virat Kohli’s record in the format. Virat and Babar are the only two batsmen to reach the milestone in less than 100 innings. Overall, Babar is the eighth player to reach the landmark in T20Is. On the other hand, Suzie Bates, Meg Lanning and Stafanie Taylor have over 3,000 runs in women’s T20Is.
HOT TOPICS: Pakistan PM Office audio leaks scandal: Who is ‘Mr. 13’ and the ‘Gen’ time is up for?
Mohammad Hafeez is the next Pakistani batsman in the list with 2,514 runs, followed by Bismah Maroof with 2,388 runs. Former Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik and current opener Rizwan are the only others outside these three from Pakistan with more than 2,000 T20I runs.