Pakistan skipper Babar Azam shattered multiple records during the first test against New Zealand in Karachi on December 26. Babar scored his 9th ton in test cricket and while doing so broke many records that were previously held by greats like Brian Lara, Mahela Jayawardene and Mohammad Yousuf. Pakistan is hosting New Zealand for a 2 test match series and the first test is currently underway.
Records Shattered by Babar Azam
Here is the list of all the records that Babar Azam owns en route to his unbeaten 161-run knock on the first day of the boxing day test match –
- Babar now has the most number of 50s as a skipper in a calendar year – 25; previously, this record was held by Ricky Ponting
- Babar is now the highest run-getter in test cricket in 2022; he has amassed more than 1000 runs in 9 matches
- Babar Azam now holds the record for most runs in a calendar year by a Pakistani batter (across formats); previously, the record was held by Mohammad Yousuf when he aggregated 2435 runs in 2006
At the end of Day 1’s play, Pakistan is sitting comfortably at 317 for 5 after a mammoth partnership between the current and former skippers – Babar Azam and Sarfaraz Ahmed. Babar is unbeaten on 161 runs. Sarfaraz was dismissed for 86 a couple of minutes before the end of the day’s play. For New Zealand, Ajaz Patel and Michael Bracewell picked up 2 wickets each while skipper Southee bagged one wicket.