DALLAS: Pakistan’s skipper Babar Azam surpassed Virat Kohli to become the all-time leading run-scorer in T20I cricket during Green Shirts’ 2024 T20 World Cup clash against the USA at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, Texas,
Before opening the innings for Pakistan in the T20 World Cup first match, Babar was just 16 runs short of surpassing Indian batsman Virat Kohli’s record of 4,038 runs. Achieving the milestone in a rather unremarkable manner, the 29-year-old scored 44 runs off 44 balls against the USA bowling attack. It took Babar 120 games to achieve this feat, compared to Kohli’s 118 matches.
Despite Pakistan’s batsmen struggling against the USA, Babar’s innings brought some stability to the crease. The 2024 T20 World Cup marked a new phase for Babar, who was appointed as the team’s white-ball captain ahead of the tournament. This added responsibility added pressure to the 29-year-old, who was a key figure in the squad. Pakistan’s campaign faced a rough start as they stumbled to 98 for 5 within the first 12 overs of the match against the USA.
Although the team gained momentum during the middle overs, Babar’s dismissal in the 16th over dealt another blow. Mohammed Rizwan, Azam Khan, Usman Khan, and Fakhar Zaman failed to make an impact, prompting newly appointed coach Gary Kirsten and captain Babar to reassess their strategy. While the challenging pitch conditions in Dallas may have contributed to the low total, Pakistan struggled against bowlers like Nosthush Kenjige.
