Babar Azam Equals Steve Smith’s Massive World Record In WTC

Babar Azam [Source: AFP]

After missing the first Test against Bangladesh due to injury, Babar Azam returned to Pakistan’s playing XI as if he had never been away. With Pakistan in a spot of bother and chasing Bangladesh’s first-innings total of 278, the former captain slipped back into his favourite role: standing tall when his team needed him the most.

In the process, he also matched a major ICC World Test Championship record held by Steve Smith. The right-hander brought up his 31st Test half-century and, with it, registered his 20th fifty in World Test Championship history. That took him level with Smith and Zak Crawley for the third-most fifties in WTC history.

Babar Azam joins elite company

Babar reached the milestone in his 39th WTC Test and added another feather to an already glittering cap. Only two players now sit above him on the all-time list.

Most fifties in WTC history

With Babar still unbeaten, he has a golden chance to convert this fifty into a century.

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A knock of pure class

Pakistan were in a spot of bother after losing both their openers for just 23 runs. That is when Babar walked into the middle and slammed the brakes on Bangladesh’s momentum.

He was dismissed for 68 off 84 balls at the time of writing, having struck 10 boundaries. It has been vintage Babar: gorgeous drives, perfect timing and not a hint of panic.

Babar Azam has stitched together an important partnership with Salman Agha, who is unbeaten on 19. Together, they have helped Pakistan reach 140/4 in 38.6 overs, still trailing Bangladesh by 138 runs.

Bangladesh post 278 thanks to Litton Das masterclass

Earlier in the match, Litton Das played a gem of an innings. The wicketkeeper-batter smashed 126 off 159 balls, including 16 fours and two sixes, to rescue Bangladesh after they had slipped to 110/5.

His century was the backbone of Bangladesh’s first-innings total of 278. For Pakistan, Khurram Shahzad starred with four wickets, while Mohammad Abbas grabbed three.

Babar holding the fort

Pakistan’s innings got off to a dismal start. Taskin Ahmed removed both openers cheaply, and Bangladesh kept chipping away with wickets. But Babar stood firm like a rock in the middle of a storm.

He soaked up the pressure, punished loose deliveries and slowly shifted the momentum back in Pakistan’s favour. If he bats deep on Day 2, Pakistan could turn the tide and take a vital first-innings lead.

Babar’s golden opportunity

Records are nice, but Babar will have bigger fish to fry. Pakistan still trail by 138 runs, and their hopes of ending the series on level terms rest heavily on their premier batter.

One thing is certain: Babar Azam has once again shown why he remains the mainstay of Pakistan batting. And if he converts this fluent fifty into a hundred, Sylhet could witness another chapter in the Babar Azam story.

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