SYLHET: Star Pakistani batter Babar Azam became the first batter in the world to score more than 9,000 international runs in the current decade, reaching the milestone during Pakistan’s second Test against Bangladesh national cricket team in Sylhet.
The former Pakistan captain achieved the feat in the first innings at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, where he scored a composed 68 off 84 balls, including 10 boundaries.
Since the start of the 2020s, Babar has amassed 9,060 international runs in 212 innings at an average of 42.53. During that period, he has struck 17 centuries and 67 half-centuries.
Joe Root is second on the list with 8,305 runs, followed by Mohammad Rizwan with 7,779 runs.
Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka occupy fourth and fifth places, respectively, while Virat Kohli is sixth.
Despite Babar’s landmark innings, Bangladesh maintained control of the match and bowled out Pakistan for 232 in its first innings.
Earlier, Test fast bowler Mohammad Abbas achieved another major milestone in his Test career by becoming one of the few Pakistani fast bowlers to claim 100 wickets in overseas Test matches.
The 36-year-old reached the landmark during the second Test against Bangladesh national cricket team when he dismissed captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, caught behind by the wicketkeeper.
Abbas continued his strong spell by also removing openers Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Tanzid Hasan, putting the hosts under early pressure.
He became the sixth Pakistani fast bowler to take 100 Test wickets away from home, joining Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Imran Khan, Mohammad Amir and Umar Gul.
More read, Mohammad Abbas archives another major millstone Test career
Among Pakistani bowlers with more than 100 overseas Test wickets, Abbas holds the best bowling average at 23.02.
