PERTH: Today, in Perth against Australia, Babar Azam, the ex-Pakistan captain and renowned batsman, marks his 50th Test match.
Shan Masood, the newly-appointed Pakistan Test Captain, honored Babar Azam’s exceptional performance by presenting him with a souvenir and a cap to commemorate his 50th red-ball match for the national team.
“You still have a lot to achieve. You have changed Pakistan’s batting dynamics. You have proved that our batsmen can become world-class players,” Shan said.
The Test skipper, echoing a sentiment shared by many, expressed that this phase marked only the initial stages and emphasized the desire to witness Babar Azam’s participation in 100 Tests. He highlighted the array of players who have thrived under Babar’s leadership, acknowledging Babar Azam’s prowess across various global cricket arenas.
Grateful for the captain’s encouraging remarks, Babar Azam extended his appreciation.
Since his debut in 2016, Babar Azam has impressively amassed 3,772 runs from 88 innings across 49 Test matches, maintaining an outstanding average of 47.7. His record includes nine centuries and 26 half-centuries.
In the opening Test against Pakistan at Perth Stadium, Australian captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat. The sole change in the Australian lineup from their previous Test against England at the Oval in July was the return of the recovered spinner Nathan Lyon, replacing Todd Murphy. Lyon stands at 496 Test wickets, poised to join an elite group of just seven other Test bowlers in breaching the 500-mark milestone.
Meanwhile, in the Pakistani camp, newly appointed captain Shan introduced two debutants, Aamer Jamal and Khurram Shahzad, into the squad, reinforcing an attack led by Shaheen Shah Afridi. Notably, their lineup lacked a specialist spinner.
Pakistan’s historical performance in Australia has been lackluster, enduring a streak of 14 consecutive Test losses, with their last triumph dating back to 1995.
