As the cricket world turns its focus to the high-profile Test series between Pakistan and Australia, special attention is being given to former Pakistan captain Babar Azam. Stepping onto the pitch for the first time post his captaincy, following a disappointing World Cup outing, Babar Azam is poised to play a crucial role for the visitors. The much-anticipated series is set to commence on December 14 in Perth, with Pakistan determined to make a strong statement.
Babar, at 29, finds himself teetering on the edge of etching his name among cricket’s elite batsmen. With a mere 14 runs separating him from the significant landmark of 13,000 runs in international cricket, expectations are high that he will cross this threshold during his first innings at the Perth Test. To date, Babar has stacked up an impressive 12,986 runs across 270 international matches, boasting an enviable track record with 31 centuries and 88 half-centuries, averaging 49.18 runs.
With his eyes set on this new milestone, Babar is on the path to become the fifth Pakistani batsman to achieve this feat, aligning himself with the likes of cricketing stalwarts Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, and Javed Miandad. Inzamam-ul-Haq holds the top spot for most runs scored for Pakistan in international cricket, totaling to 20,580 runs. Babar Azam is closest in this journey to matching Javed Miandad who has an illustrious record of 16,213 runs.
An added layer of aspiration lies ahead, as Babar could surpass Indian cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar, who accumulated 13,214 runs in his international career. Babar requires just 229 runs to overtake Gavaskar, a challenge he keenly faces in the land down under. Furthermore, Babar stands just 228 runs short of reaching the 4,000 run-mark in Test cricket.
The series is also set to host another personal milestone for Babar—his 50th Test match appearance. What better venue than the fast and challenging pitches of Perth to celebrate this occasion? This milestone supplies an additional narrative to a Test match that promises to be filled with both personal and national pride.
Pakistan has announced a strong squad to take on the Australian challenge, captained by Shan Masood and featuring players like Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, and many others. The team composition suggests a blend of experience and youthful exuberance, all rallying behind the proficient wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan and the formidable pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi.
The cricketing world will be watching with bated breath as Babar Azam strides onto the green outfield of the Perth Stadium with his willow, eyes twinkling with the determination of rewriting records and leading his team to potential glory against a formidable Australian side. As fans from both nations look forward to the thrilling encounter, it’s not just a series win but also a page in the history books that’s up for grabs for Babar Azam and Pakistan cricket.