Babar Azam achieved yet another milestone in his career and became the 16th batsman to complete 9000 runs in T20 cricket. The right-handed batsman achieved the milestone during the Eliminator of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2023 between Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United. Babar is leading Peshawar in the T20 tournament.
Babar scored a brisk 64 off just 39 balls to propel Peshawar to a huge total of 183/8. En route to his big knock, Babar joined the elite of batsmen with 9000 runs and became the quickest one to do so. Babar completed 9000 T20 runs in only 245 innings. The record for scoring the quickest 9000 runs earlier belonged to Chris Gayle. Gayle completed the milestone in 249 innings.
Babar also sits ahead of India legend Virat Kohli, who took 271 innings to score 9000 runs in T20s. Babar now has 9029 runs in 254 matches. He averages 44.04 and has batted with a strike rate of 128.52. His tally includes 8 centuries and 76 half-centuries. Babar has a long career ahead of him and can very well climb to the top spot in the list of batsmen with the most T20 runs in the next 4-5 years.
Talking of the Eliminator, Peshawar put on a huge total of 183/8 on the board. Apart from Babar, Mohammad Haris also played his part and smashed 34 off just 17 balls. The total proved to be enough as Islamabad United scored 171/6 and fell short by 12 runs.
Sohaib Maqsood and Alex Hales scored half-centuries for Islamabad but their efforts didn’t prove to be enough. Peshawar will now face Lahore Qalandars in the second Eliminator. The winner of the contest will face Multan Sultans in the final. The Mohammad Rizwan-led side booked their spot in the final with a win over Lahore in the Qualifier
