In a rain-affected first T20I match against Australia at The Gabba in Brisbane, former Pakistan captain Babar Azam achieved significant personal milestones, even as Pakistan succumbed to a 29-run defeat.
The match, reduced to seven overs per side due to inclement weather, saw Australia take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Despite the team’s loss, Babar Azam became the player to represent Pakistan in the most T20I matches, surpassing Shoaib Malik. With his appearance in the rain-shortened match, Babar has now played 124 T20Is, moving past Malik’s 123. Mohammad Hafeez and Shadab Khan follow with 119 and 104 matches, respectively.
| Player Name | Matches |
|---|---|
| Babar Azam | 124 |
| Shoaib Malik | 123 |
| Mohammad Hafeez | 119 |
| Shadab Khan | 104 |
In addition to his catching record, Babar Azam also etched his name in the record books by surpassing Fakhar Zaman to become the player with the most catches in T20I cricket for Pakistan. Babar Azam now holds 52 catches, overtaking Zaman’s previous record of 50. Shoaib Malik shares the second spot with Zaman, while Umar Akmal and Shadab Khan follow with 39 and 36 catches, respectively.
| Player Name | Catches |
|---|---|
| Babar Azam | 52 |
| Fakhar Zaman | 50 |
| Shoaib Malik | 50 |
| Umar Akmal | 39 |
| Shadab Khan | 36 |
The match itself was a challenging outing for Pakistan. Australia, batting first, posted a formidable 93/4 in their seven overs. The Australian innings was marked by aggressive batting, setting a high target for the visitors.
In response, Pakistan’s chase faltered early. Despite a promising start with 12 runs in the first over, the team struggled to maintain momentum. The batting lineup collapsed, including Babar Azam, managing only 64/9 by the end of their innings, falling well short of the 94-run target.
Australia’s comprehensive performance secured them a convincing victory, leaving Pakistan to regroup and strategize ahead of the second T20I. As the series progresses, Pakistan will aim to bounce back and level the series.