Babar Azam Eclipses Imran Khan, Equals Miandad In Elite Record With PAK Vs WI Exploits

Babar Azam attains huge Test feat vs West Indies [Source: AFP]

Babar Azam failed to deliver the goods in the first Test against the West Indies, but he more than made up for it in the first innings of the second Test match against the same opponent. Pressure was mounting on the Pakistan Test skipper to perform, and he showcased his class during the first innings.

The Windies scored 344 runs in their first innings, and in reply, Pakistan lost 2 wickets for 98 runs when Babar walked out to bat. On a wicket that had something for the pacers, Babar consolidated the innings alongside Abdullah Shafique, and remained unbeaten on 86.

In the process, the Test captain crossed Imran Khan in a special feat, and also equalled the great Javed Miandad in the list of most fifties scored by a Pakistan captain in Tests.

Babar Azam equals Javed Miandad in huge Test feat as Pakistan captain

The right-handed batter played some exquisite shots and reached his 13th half-century as captain in Tests. In the process, he equalled Javed Miandad, and now Babar has the joint fourth-most Test fifties as Pakistan captain (13).

Former captain Misbah-ul-Haq sits at the top with 35 fifty-plus scores, followed by Imran Khan with 14 such scores.

Inzamam-ul-Haq also has 14 fifty-plus scores as Pakistan Test captain, while both Miandad and Babar have 13 each. If the 31-year-old scores a fifty in the second innings as well, he will surpass Miandad and will equal both Imran Khan and Inzamam.

Babar Azam surpasses Imran Khan in Test batting record

At the close of Day 2, Babar remained unbeaten, and apart from equalling Miandad, the number 4 batter also shattered Imran Khan’s batting feat. As captain, Babar now has a Test average of 54.1 (minimum 1000 runs), and he now has an average better than the likes of Imran Khan and Salim Malik.

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Highest average as captain for Pakistan in Tests (1000+ runs)

• Babar Azam - 54.1
• Saleem Malik - 52.4
• Imran Khan - 52.3
• Inzamam-ul-Haq - 52.1
• Misbah-ul-Haq - 51.4

Apart from Imran khan, and Salim Malik, the other names on the list are Misbah-ul-Haq and Inzamam-ul-Haq, the two greats of the game.

Babar Azam's overall batting record as Pakistan Test captain

Babar boasts an incredible record as Pakistan’s Test captain. So far, the elegant batter has led his nation in 22 Tests and has already racked up 1894 runs, with an average of 54.1.

In 22 games, he has slammed 4 hundreds and has 13 fifties to his name, as the player has an impeccable batting record as captain. In fact, captaincy brings out the best in Babar. As captain, he has a Test average of 54, while as non-captain, the same number drops down to 38.78.

He is the fifth-highest run-getter in Tests as Pakistan captain, and already has several records under his name as he continues to rise.

The batter will come out to bat on Day 3 of the second Test vs the West Indies with the aim of registering his fifth Test hundred as the captain of the team.

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