Babar Azam achieves major milestone during third South Africa ODI

Pakistan batter Babar Azam on Saturday achieved a major milestone, reaching the 15,000-run mark in international cricket.

Babar achieved the milestone during the third ODI and final ODI of the three-match series against South Africa, underway here at the Iqbal Stadium, when he worked Bjorn Fortuin for a single towards the wide mid-on to score his 23rd run.

The single took his runs tally in international cricket to 15,000, and the 31-year-old, as a result, became just the fifth Pakistani to amass the milestone, joining the likes of Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf and Javed Miandad.

Notably, former captain Inzamam leads the list of most international runs by Pakistan batters with 20,541 in 547 innings, followed by Younis with 17,790, Yousuf with 17,134 and Miandad with 16,213.

Most international runs for Pakistan

Inzamam-ul-Haq – 20,541 runs in 547 innings

Younis Khan – 17,790 runs in 491 innings

Mohammad Yousuf – 17,134 runs in 426 innings

Javed Miandad – 16,213 in 407 innings

Babar Azam – 15,004 runs in 370 innings

Notably, Babar could not convert his decent start with the bat into a big knock and had an agonising end to his stay at the crease as he was run out after scoring 27 off 32 deliveries, comprising five boundaries.

His dismissal came at a crucial juncture as Pakistan were recovering from a dismal start, which saw left-handed opener Fakhar Zaman getting dismissed for a second consecutive duck.

Meanwhile, when this story was filed, the Green Shirts were 73/2 in 13 overs, with opener Saim Ayub and wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan, unbeaten on 39 and five, respectively.

The home side needed 71 runs in 37 overs with eight wickets in hand to clinch the three-match ODI series against South Africa 2-1.