Babar Azam beats Virat Kohli, becomes fastest batsman to reach 2,000 T20 runs

Gulf Today Report

Pakistan captain Babar Azam became the fastest batsman to reach 2,000 Twenty20 international runs on Sunday, achieving the feat in 52 innings, four fewer than Indian superstar Virat Kohli.

Azam bagged the record during Pakistan's deciding third and final T20 against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club.

"The brilliant Babar Azam bags another record," congratulated the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Twitter.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) also congratulated Azam on the achievement.

"Babar Azam becomes the fastest batsman to 2000 T20I runs. He has taken only 52 innings to achieve the feat!"

"Congratulations to skipper Babar Azam for being the fastest batsman in the world to reach 2,000 T20I runs in only 52 innings," said the Foreign Office as it too extended its congratulations.

Azam became the 11th overall player to score 2,000 T20I runs and also took another record from Indian skipper Virat Kohli, who previously held the record for scoring the 2,000 runs in 56 innings.

Azam only needed 60 more runs to break the record since he had already achieved 1940 runs at an average of 48.50 in 49 innings, according to a previous press release from the PCB.

Azam lifted his T20 total to 2,035 runs by making 52 as Pakistan defeated Zimbabwe by 24 runs to win a T20 series 2-1 at Harare Sports Club.

Kohli has scored 3,159 runs in the 20-over format, but it took him 56 innings to pass the 2,000-run landmark.

After Azam and Kohli come Australia skipper Aaron Finch (62 innings) and former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum (66).