Babar Azam becomes 2nd Pakistan batter to score 1000 runs in ICC World Cups

Babar Azam, on Monday, October 23, became only the second Pakistan batter to score 1000 runs in the ICC World Cups (ODI and T20I). The national skipper achieved the feat in the match against Hashmatullah Shahidi’s Afghanistan at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Babar was only 16 runs short of the feat and he got there without having to break a sweat. In 26 matches in ICC events, the right-handed batter has notched 1058 runs at an average of 44.08 and a strike-rate of 95.31 with one hundred and 10 half-centuries to show for his efforts.

The legendary Javed Miandad is Pakistan’s all-time leading run-scorer in the ICC World Cups. Miandad racked up 1083 runs from 33 matches at an average of 43.32 and a strike-rate of 68.02 with one hundred and eight fifties.

Pakistan’s



next match is against South Africa on Friday, October 27 at the Chepauk. Babar needs only 26 runs to go past Miandad and set a new record for the Men in Green in World Cups.

In the ongoing World Cup on Indian soil, Babar has had his fair share of ups and downs.He failed to score against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka. However, he scored 50 runs against Rohit Sharma’s India in Ahmedabad, although the knock came in a losing cause.

Thereafter, Babar failed to step up against Australia in a stiff run-chase. Against the Afghans, Babar looked in good touch. He scored 74 runs off 92 balls with four fours and a six before Noor Ahmad accounted for his wicket.

In five matches in World Cup 2023, the 29-year-old Babar has scored 157 runs at an average of 31.40 and a strike-rate of 79.69.