Returning to international T20 cricket after 10 months, Pakistan’s former captain Babar Azam was dismissed before opening his account in the first match. Although the second match secured victory for his team, it wasn’t a big personal performance. However, after scoring just 9 runs, he became the highest run-scorer in international T20 cricket. At the same time, Pakistan defeated South Africa by 9 wickets, powered by the bowlers and Shaheim Ayub’s destructive innings.
Until now, the record for the highest run-scorer in T20 internationals was held by India’s former World Cup-winning captain Rohit Sharma, who retired from the format after winning the 2024 World Cup. Babar needed just 9 runs to surpass him. On Friday, he scored 13 runs against the Proteas. Currently, Babar has scored 4,234 runs in international T20s, across 123 innings, with an average of 39.57 and a strike rate of 128.77.
Rohit Sharma scored 4,231 runs in 151 T20 innings, averaging 32.05 with a strike rate of 140.89. Only one other player has crossed 4,000 runs: former Indian captain Virat Kohli, who, before announcing retirement from the format alongside Rohit after the World Cup, had scored 4,188 runs in 117 innings at an average of 48.69 and a strike rate of 137.04. The other two in the top five are Jos Buttler (3,869) and Paul Stirling (3,710).
Meanwhile, in Lahore, South Africa suffered a major collapse after batting first against Pakistan. Dewald Brevis top-scored with 25, while captain Donovan Pereira made 15. The visitors struggled against the Pakistani bowlers, being bowled out for just 110 runs in 19.2 overs. Fahim Ashraf took 4 wickets, Salman Mirza 3, and Naseem Shah 2 for Pakistan.