Babar Azam, Pakistan’s batting sensation, enters the 2023 World Cup in India with a string of milestones within his reach. This contemporary cricket stalwart has consistently etched his name in the record books, showing unwavering class and composure on the pitch.
In the world of cricket, Babar Azam is celebrated for his extraordinary talent and unwavering performance in One-Day Internationals. He has proven himself as a promising talent since his early days and has now emerged as one of Pakistan’s brightest stars.
To secure victory for Pakistan in the upcoming 50-over World Cup in India, Babar Azam will need to elevate his game further, achieving new milestones in the process. Here are five such milestones that could etch his name into the annals of white-ball cricketing history.
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1) Highest ODI Run-scorer in the Last Four Years
Babar has amassed a staggering 2,196 runs in the last four years at an average of 66.54 and a strike rate of 93.72. This remarkable feat places him as the second-highest run-scorer in ODIs globally since the previous World Cup in England. With Shai Hope absent from this World Cup, Babar has a prime opportunity to establish himself as the leading run-getter in ODIs over the last four years, outperforming even the likes of Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli among active World Cup players.
2) Most Runs in a Men’s World Cup
The 2023 World Cup follows a round-robin format, presenting a golden opportunity for consistently dependable batsmen like Babar. With nine guaranteed league-stage matches before the knockout rounds, Babar stands as a serious contender to break a remarkable record held by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. He could potentially surpass Tendulkar’s 673 runs, achieved over 11 innings at the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, to claim the record for most runs in a men’s World Cup.
3) Most Runs by a Pakistani in a Men’s World Cup
Babar, participating in only his second men’s 50-over World Cup, is poised to become Pakistan’s highest-ever run-scorer in the tournament’s history. He concluded the 2019 edition with 474 runs from eight innings, trailing Javed Miandad by 10 positions on the list. With a remarkable performance resulting in 610 runs at the upcoming World Cup, he could surpass Miandad, who accumulated his record over 33 matches spanning six different editions from 1975 to 1996.
4) Most Runs by a Pakistan Captain in a World Cup
Surpassing the Miandad milestone, Babar could aim to outdo Pakistan’s iconic all-rounder and former captain, Imran Khan. Khan, who led Pakistan to their solitary men’s World Cup triumph in 1992, boasts the most runs as captain for Pakistan in the tournament’s history. Babar could surpass Khan if he amasses over 615 runs during the Indian campaign, becoming the Pakistan captain with the most runs in a World Cup.
5) Most Centuries in World Cup as Player and Captain for Pakistan
Babar Azam’s penchant for centuries could manifest in the upcoming World Cup, elevating him to the status of Pakistan’s skipper with the most centuries in the tournament. Imran Khan remains the only Pakistan men’s captain to achieve a World Cup century to date. Babar Azam, by securing just two centuries during this campaign, could surpass Khan and establish himself as Pakistan’s most prolific century-maker in World Cup history. Saeed Anwar currently holds that record with three centuries, but given Babar’s relentless pursuit of records, even Anwar’s milestone appears within his grasp.