Pakistani batter Babar Azam etched his name in the record books with a significant international achievement in the second Test against Bangladesh at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Babar, who produced a fighting 68 from 84 deliveries featuring 10 boundaries, has now become the only batter to cross 9,000 international runs in the 2020s.
He reached this milestone in his 212th international appearance of the decade, underlining his consistency across all formats. His career during this period includes 67 half-centuries and 17 centuries, at an average of 42.53.
England’s Joe Root is second on the list with 8,305 runs in 120 matches, while Pakistani keeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan is third with 7,779 runs in 199 matches.
Most international races in the current decade (2020s):
Babar Azam (Pakistan) – 9,060 runs
Joe Root (England) – 8,305 runs
Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan) – 7,779 runs
Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka) – 7,046 runs
Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka) – 6,873 runs
Virat Kohli (India) – 6,771 runs
Litton Das (Bangladesh) – 6,763 runs
Babar also equaled Australian Steve Smith’s batting record in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) in the second Test against Bangladesh.
Babar, who made his 31st Test half-century in his career, became the third highest half-century scorer in WTC history, alongside Smith and England’s Zak Crawley.
The right-handed batter recorded his 20th fifty at WTC in his 39th Test, moving into a shared third place on the all-time list.
Veteran England batter Joe Root is second with 22 half-centuries, while Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne tops the chart with 24 fifties.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh tightened their grip in the second and final Test, extending their lead over Pakistan at the end of the second day.
Batting in their second innings, the hosts finished the second day at 110-3 in 26.4 overs, holding an advantage of 156 runs. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto remained unbeaten on 13, while Mominul Haque was dismissed in the last delivery of the day’s play.
Earlier, Pakistan were bowled out for 232 in 57.4 overs in their first innings, giving the hosts a 46-run lead.
