Pakistan former captain Babar Azam has returned to form in style. During the Tri-Series clash against Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi, the star batter smashed a confident 74 off 52 balls, bringing up his 38th T20I half-century. With this knock, Babar has now equaled Virat Kohli world record for most fifties in T20 Internationals, placing him at the joint No.1 spot globally.
A Much-Needed Knock From the Pakistan Star
Coming in at No.3, Babar started cautiously and later shifted gears to stabilize Pakistan’s innings. His innings included:
- 74 runs off 52 balls
- 7 fours and 2 sixes
- Strike rate of 142.30
He brought up his fifty in 42 balls, anchoring a crucial 103-run partnership with Sahibzada Farhan for the second wicket. Their partnership laid the foundation for Pakistan total of 195/5.
Equaled Virat Kohli – One Step Away From Becoming No.1
Before this match, Virat Kohli held the world record with 38 T20I fifties in 117 innings. Babar has now matched that record in 127 innings.
Most Fifties in T20I Cricket
| Player | Fifties |
|---|---|
| Babar Azam | 38* |
| Virat Kohli | 38 |
| Rohit Sharma | 32 |
| Mohammad Rizwan | 30 |
| David Warner | 28 |
With just one more half-century, Babar Azam will become the player with the most fifties in T20I history. With this knock, Babar also became the highest run-scorer for Pakistan in T20Is against Zimbabwe, surpassing Ahmed Shehzad:
- Babar Azam – 306 runs in 8 innings
- Ahmed Shehzad – 265 runs in 6 innings
His consistency against Zimbabwe once again proved vital for Pakistan.
Pakistan Cruise to a 69-Run Victory
Pakistan completely dominated the match, registering a massive 69-run win. With the target set at 196, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 126 runs in 19 overs.
For Pakistan:
- Usman Tariq took a spectacular hat-trick
- Pakistan sealed their third straight win in the tri-series
- The team also secured their spot in the final
Babar Azam T20I Career So Far
- Matches: 134
- Innings: 127
- Runs: 4392
- Average: 39.56
- Strike Rate: 128.72
- Fifties: 38
- Hundreds: 3
- Highest Score: 122
Babar Azam’s return to form couldn’t have come at a better time for Pakistan. His composed and authoritative half-century not only pushed Pakistan into the tri-series final but also placed him alongside Virat Kohli at the top of a prestigious world record list. Just one more fifty, and Babar will stand alone as the player with the most T20I half-centuries in history — a landmark that seems just around the corner.
