Babar Azam Creates History, Becomes 2nd Pakistani Batter To…

Last Updated:February 20, 2025, 07:01 IST

Babar Azam opened for Pakistan in the first match of Champions Trophy 2025 and scored 64 runs from 90 balls against New Zealand in Karachi on Wednesday.

Star Pakistani batter and former captain Babar Azam, who scored 64 runs from 90 balls for Mohammad Rizwan-led side in the first match of Champions Trophy 2025 against New Zealand at National Stadium in Karachi, entered his name in history books on Wednesday, February 19, by becoming only the second Pakistani batter to score 100 half-centuries in international cricket. Since making his international debut for Pakistan against Zimbabwe during an ODI match played at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on May 31, 2015, Babar has scored 29 fifties in 59 Tests, 35 half-centuries in 127 ODIs, and 36 fifties in 128 T20Is.

Only former captain and legendary batter Inzamam-ul-Haq has hammered more half-centuries for Babar in international cricket for the Men in Green. During his 16-year-long career, Inzamam played 120 Tests and 378 ODIs for Pakistan and hammered 46 and 83 half-centuries, respectively.

Most half-centuries for Pakistan

• Inzamam-ul-Haq: 129
• Babar Azam: 100
• Mohammad Yousuf: 95
• Javed Miandad: 93
• Misbah-ul-Haq: 84
• Younis Khan: 83
• Saleem Malik: 76
• Saeed Anwar: 68
• Mohammad Hafeez: 64
• Shoaib Malik: 61

The overall record of scoring the most half-centuries in international cricket is held by former India batter Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar scored 164 fifties in 664 matches for Team India during his 24-year-long international career, and he is followed by Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara (153), South Africa’s Jacques Kallis (149), India’s Rahul Dravid (146), Australia’s Ricky Ponting (146), and India’s Virat Kohli (142).

Babar is the 21st batter in the world to score 100 or more half-centuries in international cricket.

Most half-centuries in international cricket

• Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 164
• Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka, Asia, ICC) – 153
• Jacques Kallis (South Africa, Africa, ICC) – 149
• Rahul Dravid (India, Asia, ICC) – 146
• Ricky Ponting (Australia, ICC) – 146
• Virat Kohli (India) – 142
• Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka, Asia) – 136
• Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan, Asia, ICC) – 129
• Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies) – 125
• Brian Lara (West Indies, ICC) – 111
• Joe Root (England) – 110
• Ab de Villiers (South Africa, Africa) – 109
• MS Dhoni (India, Asia) – 108
• Rohit Sharma (India) – 107
• Sourav Ganguly (India, Asia) – 107
• Chris Gayle (West Indies, ICC) – 105
• Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka, Asia) – 103
• Allan Border (Australia) – 102
• Kane Williamson (New Zealand) – 101
• Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh) – 100
• Babar Azam (Pakistan) – 100

Pakistan lost by 60 runs

In the first match of Champions Trophy 2025, Pakistan suffered a humiliating defeat by 60 runs against New Zealand. The Kiwis, after being invited to bat first by Pakistan captain Rizwan, rode on twin centuries from Will Young (107) and Tom Latham (118*) to post a total of 320/5 on the board and then dismissed the defending champions and hosts for 260 in 47.2 overs. For Pakistan, apart from Babar, Khushdil Shah scored 69 runs from 49 balls.

Despite his first half-century as an opening batter for Pakistan in ODIs, Babar faced a lot of criticism from fans and experts on Wednesday due to his slow knock. In the run chase of 321 runs, Babar played with a strike rate of 71.11 and only managed to score six fours and one six.

Location :

Karachi, Pakistan