Babar Azam Becomes Top Run-Scorer in T20Is

News Desk 

Lahore: Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam has become the highest run-scorer in Twenty20 internationals (T20Is), surpassing India’s Rohit Sharma to claim the top spot.

Babar achieved the milestone in his 123rd innings, taking his career tally to 4,232 runs — one run ahead of Rohit’s 4,231, scored in 151 innings. India’s Virat Kohli follows in third place with 4,188 runs in 117 innings.

The 30-year-old Pakistan captain’s consistency and elegant stroke play have made him one of the most reliable performers in modern T20 cricket. His latest record further reinforces his standing among the format’s elite, with a superior batting average and strike rate compared to most of his contemporaries.

Meanwhile, on a night when boundaries flowed freely and the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium roared at full capacity, it wasn’t express pace or big hitting that defined the opening Twenty20 International between Pakistan and South Africa — it was the art of spin.

Mohammad Nawaz and Saim Ayub, operating with guile and precision on a batting-friendly track, turned the tide with combined figures of 5 for 57. Their disciplined spell halted South Africa’s charge, restricting the visitors to 194 for nine — a total that seemed destined to cross the 200-mark before Pakistan’s spinners intervened.

The match marked the beginning of a crucial home series for Pakistan, one that doubles as a laboratory for experimentation ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup. And in the heart of this trial stood two left-armers — one a seasoned campaigner, the other a part-time spinner with golden hands.