KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam has reached a historic milestone in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 by becoming the fastest player to score 12,000 runs in T20 cricket.
The landmark came during Zalmi’s match against Karachi Kings. Babar achieved the feat in just 338 innings, surpassing West Indies legend Chris Gayle, who had reached the mark in 345 innings. This achievement cements Babar’s reputation as one of the most consistent performers in T20 cricket.
With this milestone, Babar Azam becomes only the 12th player in T20 history to cross 12,000 runs. He is also the second Pakistani to do so, after Shoaib Malik.
Despite Babar’s achievement, Chris Gayle remains the highest run-scorer in T20 cricket, amassing 14,562 runs in 455 innings. He is followed by Kieron Pollard with 14,482 runs in 652 innings and England’s Alex Hales, who has 14,449 runs in 423 innings. Other elite T20 run-scorers include David Warner, Jos Buttler, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Faf du Plessis, and Quinton de Kock.
Babar Azam’s milestone highlights his remarkable consistency and longevity in T20 cricket. Experts say his performance underlines his status as one of the modern greats of the game.
Earlier, Babar Azam clarified his batting position in T20 cricket. Speaking to former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja, he ended the long-standing debate regarding his role.
“This tournament, I’ll be opening the innings. This position suits me. There’ll be different opinions, but the best position for me is where the team needs me,” Babar said. He emphasized that his decision prioritizes team strategy over personal ambition.
Babar Azam’s focus and adaptability continue to inspire cricket fans worldwide, as he sets new standards in the shortest format of the game.
