Babar Azam Celebrates a Decade in International Cricket

LAHORE: On Saturday, former Pakistan cricket team captain Babar Azam marked ten years of competing in international cricket. His journey began precisely a decade earlier at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on May 31, 2015, when the young right-handed batter made his international debut for Pakistan against Zimbabwe.

That player was none other than Babar Azam, a name now recognized for batting excellence in Pakistan’s modern cricket scene. He has become one of the most distinguished batters in Pakistan’s cricket history, progressing through dedication and moments of brilliance.

Babar’s career in international cricket has been remarkable, marked by significant highs and lows, transforming him from a promising newcomer to a national icon.

Early in his career, Babar demonstrated his ability, securing his position across all game formats. His first T20 International match was in September 2016 against England in Manchester. A month later, he debuted in Test cricket against the West Indies in Dubai.

Over the years, Babar delivered crucial performances and secured his place in the record books.

Statistical Highlights

Babar has impressive statistics across different formats. In Test cricket, he participated in 59 matches, amassing 4,235 runs, which include nine centuries and 29 half-centuries. He has played 131 ODI matches, accumulating 6,235 runs, highlighted by 19 centuries and 37 fifties. In T20I, Babar has played 128 matches, scoring 4,223 runs, including three centuries and 36 half-centuries.

Record-Breaking Achievements

Throughout his career, Babar has broken multiple records. He was the quickest to achieve 6,000 ODI runs, doing so in just 123 innings. With an ODI average of 55.17, he is among the top players with the highest career averages in this format. He is also one of only two batters to achieve three successive centuries in ODIs and is among the select few to score half-centuries in six consecutive innings.

In T20 cricket, Babar holds the distinction of being Pakistan’s most-capped captain, with 55 matches. He holds the record for the most T20I fifties (39) and is third for the most centuries (3). His 447 boundaries in T20Is place him at the top for most fours in the format. He also reached 2,500 runs in T20Is in just 62 innings.

Leadership and Recent Form

However, his journey as a captain has faced challenges. Following a disappointing ICC World Cup campaign in 2023, Babar resigned from captaincy in all formats. Subsequently, the PCB appointed Shaheen Shah Afridi as the T20 captain and Shan Masood as the Test captain.

Babar was reinstated as the white-ball captain in 2024. However, Pakistan’s poor showing in the ICC T20 World Cup that year resulted in his removal again, with Mohammad Rizwan taking over. A decline in his personal performance raised questions about Babar’s place in the team.

He was excluded from the national squad for two successive T20I series, initially against New Zealand in March 2025, and later against Bangladesh. His most recent T20I appearance was in December 2024 against South Africa.