Babar Azam creates history in Lahore
Pakistan’s prolific batter Babar Azam etched his name into the record books on Saturday by becoming the first Asian cricketer to cross 3,000 runs in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC). The right-hander reached the milestone with a boundary off Senuran Muthusamy during Pakistan’s first innings of the opening Test against South Africa at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Babar, who was left out of the Asia Cup 2025 squad, needed just two runs to reach the mark. In doing so, he joined an exclusive group that previously featured only four Australians — Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, and Usman Khawaja — along with three Englishmen — Joe Root, Ben Stokes, and Zak Crawley.
Current series context and match situation
At the end of Day 2, Pakistan posted 378 in their first innings, before South Africa closed at 216 for 6, leaving the hosts in command. The match remains poised for a result, with Pakistan likely to bat again on Day 3. This could allow Babar and fellow batters such as Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique, Saud Shakeel, and Mohammad Rizwan another opportunity to add to their tallies.
Meanwhile, in the ongoing India–West Indies Test, India are closing in on victory, chasing just 121 runs and finishing Day 4 at 63 for 1. With only 58 runs required, players like Shubman Gill or Ravindra Jadeja may yet get a chance to extend their World Test Championship totals.
Most runs in World Test Championship
| Player | Team | Matches | Runs |
| Joe Root | England | 69 | 6080 |
| Steve Smith | Australia | 55 | 4278 |
| Marnus Labuschagne | Australia | 53 | 4225 |
| Ben Stokes | England | 57 | 3616 |
| Travis Head | Australia | 52 | 3300 |
| Usman Khawaja | Australia | 43 | 3288 |
| Zak Crawley | England | 52 | 3041 |
| Babar Azam | Pakistan | 37* | 3021* |
| Ollie Pope | England | 51 | 2868 |
| Shubman Gill | India | 39* | 2826* |
Most runs by Asian batters in WTC
| Player | Team | Matches | Runs |
| Babar Azam | Pakistan | 37* | 3021* |
| Shubman Gill | India | 39* | 2826* |
| Rishabh Pant | India | 38 | 2731 |
| Rohit Sharma | India | 40 | 2716 |
| Dimuth Karunaratne | Sri Lanka | 35 | 2642 |
| Virat Kohli | India | 46 | 2617 |
| Dhananjaya de Silva | Sri Lanka | 35 | 2509 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | India | 46* | 2505* |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | India | 26 | 2428 |
| Dinesh Chandimal | Sri Lanka | 32 | 2340 |
Most runs for Pakistan in WTC
| Player | Matches | Runs |
| Babar Azam | 37* | 3021* |
| Mohammad Rizwan | 37* | 2269* |
| Shan Masood | 28* | 1663* |
| Saud Shakeel | 20* | 1658* |
| Abdullah Shafique | 23* | 1506* |
Babar Azam’s form and resurgence in Tests
Since the launch of the World Test Championship in 2019, Babar Azam has been a consistent performer for Pakistan. He recorded remarkable batting averages of 68.44 in 2019, 67.60 in 2020, and 69.64 in 2022, underlining his dominance in the longest format.
However, since 2023, Babar’s form has fluctuated, with his average dropping to 23.60. Before the ongoing South Africa Test, he had shown signs of recovery, averaging just over 30 in 2025. After his latest 23-run knock against South Africa, his average has dipped slightly again — reflecting a player in transition, still seeking consistency but showing glimpses of his trademark class.
Despite this lean phase, his achievement of crossing 3,000 World Test Championship runs stands as a testament to his enduring quality and pivotal role in Pakistan’s batting lineup. His next innings could not only lift Pakistan’s match prospects but also reaffirm his stature among the modern greats of Test cricket.
