Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam is on the verge of becoming the highest run-scorer in T20I cricket, as he eyes a major milestone ahead of the three-match home series against South Africa starting October 28 in Rawalpindi.
The right-hander needs just nine runs to overtake former India captain Rohit Sharma and claim the top spot in the list of all-time T20I run-getters.
At present, Rohit Sharma leads the chart with 4,231 runs in 159 matches, while Babar has 4,223 runs from 128 games, including 36 fifties and three centuries, averaging an impressive 39.83 in the shortest format.
READ: Mike Hesson outlines Babar Azam’s role in South Africa T20Is
Most runs in men’s T20Is:
Rohit Sharma – 4,231 (159 matches)
Babar Azam – 4,223 (128 matches)
Virat Kohli – 4,188 (125 matches)
Jos Buttler – 3,869 (144 matches)
Paul Stirling – 3,710 (153 matches)
The upcoming series will not only be crucial for Pakistan, but it will also mark Babar’s return to T20Is, as he last featured in the format during the 2024 tour of South Africa.
The matches are scheduled at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 28, followed by two games at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on October 31 and November 2.
South Africa T20I squad:
Donovan Ferreira (captain), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, George Linde, Ottneil Baartman, Lungi Ngidi, Matthew Breetzke, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Tony de Zorzi, Andile Simelane, Lizaad Williams
Pakistan T20I squad:
Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wicket-keeper), Usman Tariq
Reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem
