WTC Milestone: Babar Azam Joins Top Modern Test Cricketers After Superb Comeback Against Bangladesh

 

Babar Azam has secured a place in the World Test Championship history books by hitting a crucial half-century against Bangladesh in Sylhet, boosting both his individual achievements and Pakistan’s position in the second Test.

Babar Azam’s fresh WTC achievement

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam compiled a disciplined fifty in the second Test against Bangladesh at the Sylhet International Stadium on Sunday. With this performance, he recorded his 20th half-century in World Test Championship fixtures. Consequently, he advanced to joint-third position on the historical list of WTC fifties.

Babar is now level with Australia’s Steve Smith and English batsman Zak Crawley, who likewise possess 20 WTC half-centuries apiece. Only England legend Joe Root and Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne rank above them. Root has registered 22 fifties in the tournament, whereas Labuschagne tops the leaderboard with 24.

WTC half-century leaders

Below is the revised ranking of cricketers with the highest number of fifties in World Test Championship history.

Marnus Labuschagne (Australia) – 24 fifties

Joe Root (England) – 22 fifties

Babar Azam (Pakistan) – 20 fifties*

Steve Smith (Australia) – 20 fifties

Zak Crawley (England) – 20 fifties

The star beside Babar’s total indicates that his WTC campaign is currently ongoing. As a result, he possesses plenty of opportunities to ascend further up this ranking during the coming matches.