Babar Azam reaches 16,000 international runs milestone

Pakistan batter Babar Azam has become the fifth player in his country's history to surpass 16,000 runs in international cricket. He achieved this milestone during the opening match of an ODI tri-series against Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Azam reached the mark in 399 innings, making him the third-fastest Pakistani to hit the milestone, following Mohammad Yousuf and Javed Miandad. He joins an elite group of Pakistani cricketers including Inzamam-ul-Haq and Younis Khan who have also surpassed 16,000 runs across all formats.

During the match, Azam scored 45 runs from 57 balls, including six boundaries, before being dismissed by Eshan Malinga on a short-pitched delivery. While celebrating his milestone, analysts noted his ongoing struggle with short-ball tactics, a concern ahead of the 2027 World Cup.

Separately, Pakistan captain Shaheen Afridi expressed confidence in the squad's unity and the role of Saim Ayub, noting that Ayub's spin bowling provides essential balance to the team's ODI lineup during the ongoing tournament featuring Sri Lanka and England.