Babar Azam, born on October 15, 1994, is a Pakistani cricketer known for his prowess in batting. He has served as the captain of the Pakistan national cricket team across all formats. Azam is highly esteemed as one of the premier batters in contemporary cricket. Notably, he holds the unique distinction of being ranked in the top 10 across all formats, currently occupying the number one position in ODIs, fifth in T20Is, and eighth in Tests. Additionally, he leads the Peshawar Zalmi team in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Babar Azam PSL Career
Babar Azam began his Pakistan Super League (PSL) journey with Islamabad United in the inaugural season. Ahead of the 2017 PSL players’ draft, he transferred to Karachi Kings, where he showcased strong performances. In the 2017 season, he emerged as the second-highest run-scorer, behind his cousin Kamran Akmal, with 291 runs at an average of 32.33. Babar’s consistent form led to his retention by the Kings for the 2018 season, where he ranked as the third-highest run-scorer, tallying five half-centuries.
He continued with Karachi Kings for the 2019 PSL season and was subsequently appointed vice-captain before the 2020 season. Babar excelled in the 2020 PSL, topping the run charts with 473 runs at an impressive average of 59.12, guiding his team to victory in the final and earning accolades as the Player of the Tournament. His stellar performances continued in the 2021 season, where he set a new record for the most runs in a single PSL edition with 554 runs at an average of 69.25.
Despite his remarkable feats, his record was surpassed in the following season by Fakhar Zaman. In December 2021, Babar was appointed as the captain of Karachi Kings for the 2022 PSL season. However, prior to the 2023 PSL, he was traded to Peshawar Zalmi, where he not only joined the team but also assumed the role of captaincy, replacing Wahab Riaz.
Babar Azam PSL Records & Stats
In his Pakistan Super League (PSL) career, Babar Azam has played a total of 79 matches. He has scored a total of 2935 runs, with his highest score being 115 runs in a single innings. Babar has achieved one century (100 runs or more) and 28 half-centuries (50 runs or more) throughout his PSL career. His batting average stands at 43.80, indicating his consistency in scoring runs, and he has maintained a strike rate of 124.84, reflecting his ability to score runs at a brisk pace. Overall, Babar Azam’s record in PSL matches showcases his significant contributions and proficiency as a batsman in the tournament.
| Babar Azam’s Stats in PSL Matches | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mat. | Runs | HS | 100s | 50s | Avg. | SR. |
| 79 | 2935 | 115 | 1 | 28 | 43.80 | 124.84 |
Also read: PSL 2024 Draft: List of Players Registered for Pakistan Super League for Diamond, Platinum Category
Babar Azam Records
Babar Azam has etched his name in cricket history with a series of remarkable achievements:
- He’s the third-fastest Pakistani batsman to reach 1000 runs in ODIs, achieving it in just 21 innings.
- Azam shares the record for being the joint fastest Pakistani to reach 2000 runs in ODIs, accomplishing it in 45 innings alongside Zaheer Abbas.
- He’s the second fastest Asian batsman to reach 3000 runs in ODIs, achieving this milestone in 68 innings.
- Setting a new benchmark, Azam became the fastest player to reach 5000 runs in ODI cricket, achieving it in just 97 innings.
- Azam holds the record for scoring the most runs (1306 runs) in the first 25 innings of his ODI career.
- He’s the only cricketer to score five consecutive centuries in a single country (United Arab Emirates).
- Babar holds several records for being the fastest batsman to score multiple ODI centuries.
- With 19 ODI centuries, he has the second most centuries for a Pakistani batsman, trailing only Saeed Anwar.
- Azam is the only player in history to score three consecutive centuries twice.
- As a captain, he reached 1000 ODI runs in just 13 innings, making him the fastest captain to achieve this milestone.
- In the 2021 T20 World Cup, he amassed 303 runs, the highest for Pakistan.
- He holds various records in T20Is, including being the fastest batsman to reach 1000 runs.
- Azam holds the record for the most runs by a Pakistani in a single World Cup (474 runs in 2019).
- He’s been Pakistan’s top ODI scorer in multiple years and also the leading Test scorer for Pakistan.
- Azam has achieved numerous milestones in captaincy, including leading Pakistan to victory against India in a World Cup match and winning the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year award twice.
- He has the highest individual score for a Pakistani captain in ODIs (158 against England in 2021).
- Babar is the fastest batsman to reach 2000 and 2500 T20I runs.
- He’s one of only three Pakistani batsmen to score a century in all formats and has the highest T20I score for Pakistan.
- In the PSL, he’s the highest run-scorer in the 2020 and 2021 seasons and holds the record for the league’s all-time leading run-scorer.
- Azam was the first Pakistani and fourth overall captain to score a century in every format.
- He holds records for his performances in Test matches, including facing the fourth most balls in the fourth innings of a Test match.
- Azam has the joint most international centuries by a Pakistani captain.
- In 2022, he surpassed Ricky Ponting’s record for the most fifty-plus scores in a calendar year.
- At the age of 28, Babar Azam became the youngest cricketer to be honored with the prestigious Sitara-e-Imtiaz, Pakistan’s third highest civilian award.
