Pakistan is set to face South Africa in the third match of the Tri-Nation ODI series on Wednesday, February 12, at the National Stadium in Karachi. This match is a must-win encounter for both sides as they aim to secure a spot in the final against New Zealand. Adding to the excitement, Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam has a golden opportunity to etch his name in the record books by becoming the fastest player to reach 6000 runs in ODIs.
Pakistan’s Performance in the Series
Pakistan started the tri-series with a disappointing loss to New Zealand, where Babar Azam struggled to find form. However, they have another opportunity to bounce back and secure their place in the final. South Africa has been competitive but inconsistent. Their batting has looked solid, but bowling remains a concern. A win against Pakistan will put them in the final.
Babar Azam’s Historic Opportunity
Babar Azam is on the verge of making history. With 5967 ODI runs in 121 innings, he needs just 33 more runs to break Hashim Amla’s record of the fastest to 6000 ODI runs (123 innings). If Babar succeeds, he will surpass legendary names like Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson.
Fastest Players to 6000 ODI Runs (by Innings)
Hashim Amla (South Africa) – 123 innings
Virat Kohli (India) – 136 innings
Kane Williamson (New Zealand) – 139 innings
David Warner (Australia) – 139 innings
Shikhar Dhawan (India) – 140 innings
Babar Azam’s Recent Form
Babar scored only 10 runs in the first match of the tri-series. Critics have questioned his performance, but this match provides him the perfect platform to answer them with a big score. To qualify for the final against New Zealand, Pakistan must win this match convincingly. They need strong performances from key players like Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, and Shaheen Afridi.
If Babar scores a half-century in Wednesday’s match, he will become the second Pakistani, after Inzamam-ul-Haq, to achieve 100 fifties in international cricket. Since his debut for Pakistan against Zimbabwe in an ODI in Lahore on May 31, 2015, Babar has amassed 31 centuries and 99 fifties in 311 matches across formats for the Men in Green.
Most 50s for Pakistan in international cricket
Inzamam-ul-Haq – 129
Babar Azam – 99
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
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