SYLHET, Bangladesh: Babar Azam became the first batter in world cricket to score more than 9,000 international runs in the current decade after reaching the milestone during Pakistan’s second Test against Bangladesh at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
The former Pakistan captain achieved the landmark with a composed innings of 68 off 84 deliveries in Pakistan’s first innings.
His knock included 10 boundaries and came at a crucial stage of the match as Pakistan attempted to respond to Bangladesh’s first-innings total of 278.
Babar has now amassed 9,060 international runs across formats since the start of the 2020s, becoming the only batter to cross the 9,000-run mark during the decade.
He reached the milestone in his 212th international appearance of the decade, maintaining an average of 42.53 with 17 centuries and 67 half-centuries.
England batter Joe Root is second on the list with 8,305 runs in 120 matches, while Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan occupies third place with 7,779 runs in 199 appearances.
Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka are fourth and fifth respectively, while India star Virat Kohli sits sixth on the list.
Bangladesh batter Litton Das is seventh with 6,763 runs.
Despite Babar’s milestone innings, Bangladesh retained control of the second and final Test after bowling Pakistan out for 232 to secure a 46-run first-innings lead.
Resuming on 206 for eight in the final session, Pakistan failed to add substantial runs before being dismissed in 57.4 overs.
Fast bowler Nahid Rana removed Khurram Shahzad after tea before wrapping up the innings with the wicket of Sajid Khan, who provided late resistance with a quick 38 off 28 balls, including two fours and four sixes.
Nahid and spinner Taijul Islam claimed three wickets each, while Taskin Ahmed and Mehidy Hasan Miraz picked up two wickets apiece.
Pakistan’s innings began poorly when Taskin dismissed opener Abdullah Fazal for nine in the second over.
Azan Awais soon followed for 13 as the visitors slipped to 23 for two.
Pakistan captain Shan Masood and Babar steadied the innings with a 38-run partnership before Mehidy dismissed Masood for 21.
Further pressure followed when Saud Shakeel fell for eight, leaving Babar to hold the innings together with a controlled half-century.
After lunch, Babar added 63 runs with Salman Ali Agha before Nahid Rana broke the partnership by dismissing the Pakistan batter for 68.
Bangladesh tightened their grip soon afterwards as Taijul removed Salman Ali Agha and Hasan Ali in quick succession before the lower order collapsed.
