Babar Azam achieves another milestone in international cricket

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan captain Babar Azam has achieved another landmark in international cricket as the top-ranked ODI become second fastest Asian batter to score 12,000 international runs in the first ODI against New Zealand, ARY news reported.

Pakistan’s batting superstar Babar Azam accumulated 12,000 runs in international cricket when he scored his sixth run in the first Pakistan vs New Zealand ODI.

World No. 1 ODI batter @babarazam258 has completed 1️⃣2️⃣,0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ international runs 👏#PAKvNZ | #CricketMubarak pic.twitter.com/5WslNR6QL3

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 27, 2023

The right-handed batter took just 277 innings to amass the milestone and became the fastest Pakistani and second-fastest Asian batter to achieve the feat.

However, he failed to level Virat Kohli’s record by difference of one inning only. Virat Kohli had achieved the feat in 276 matches.

He is the sixth-fastest overall in the world to get to the milestone. West Indies batting great Sir Vivian Richards was the fastest batter to complete 12,000 runs as he took just 255 innings.

Meanwhile, Babar is overall the eighth Pakistani batter to complete 12,000 runs in international cricket.

He joined Inzamam-ul-Haq (20541), Mohammad Yousaf (17134), Javed Miandad (16213), Saleem Malik (12938), Saeed Anwar (12876), Mohammad Hafeez (12780) and Younis Khan (11790) in the elite list.

Babar Azam has scored 3,696 runs in 85 Test inning, 4,819 runs in 94 ODI innings, and 3,485 in 98 T20I innings.

It is pertinent to mention New Zealand set Pakistan to chase 289 in the first ODI after Babar Azam put the touring side into bat as the coin flipped in his favour.

Experienced all-rounder Daryl Mitchell led the charge for New Zealand as he scored a magnificent century while Will Young scored a brilliant half-century.

Mitchell top-scored for New Zealand with 113 off 115 deliveries, laced with 11 boundaries and a six.