Babar Azam Equals Misbah-ul-Haq’s Record With 70 Fifty-Plus Scores as Pakistan Captain

Babar Azam has joined Misbah-ul-Haq at the top of a major Pakistan captaincy list. His 50 off 58 balls in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi gave him a 70th fifty-plus score as skipper. It was a fast, fluent knock that ended too early.

Babar Azam Steadies Pakistan on a Day of Debuts

Pakistan handed Test debuts to Tayyab Arif, Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Taha and Saqib Khan at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Monday, November 9. Sri Lanka answered with four fast bowlers.

Openers Azan Awais (30) and Tayyab Arif (57) gave Pakistan a solid start on day one. Babar walked in at 90/2 with the innings needing direction.

Seven Boundaries and Smooth Timing

Babar looked in good touch from the start. He struck seven boundaries on his way to a half-century.

The innings had rhythm and control, and it hinted at a much bigger score. Then Sri Lanka found the breakthrough they needed.

Dilshan Madushanka Strikes for a Maiden Test Wicket

Left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka removed Babar in the post-lunch session. He came round the wicket and bowled a full delivery around off stump that straightened after pitching.

Babar went for a straight-bat drive but did not account for the movement. The ball took the outside edge and carried safely to wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis.

It was Madushanka’s first Test wicket, and a big one to open his account with. Babar had reached fifty but could not turn it into a hundred.

A Familiar Story for Babar

The dismissal means another start that fell short of a century. Even so, the knock carried historic weight.

Babar Matches Misbah’s Pakistan Captaincy Mark

This was Babar’s 144th fifty-plus score in international cricket across all formats. It was also his 70th as Pakistan captain, level with Misbah-ul-Haq.

Babar reached the mark in 164 innings across 153 matches as captain. Misbah needed 189 innings in 151 matches. That is a gap of 25 innings.

Most 50-Plus Scores as Pakistan Captain

Inzamam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan and Javed Miandad complete the top five. Babar and Misbah are well clear of the rest.

Next Target: Misbah’s Run Tally

Babar now has another Pakistan captaincy record in sight. Misbah leads with 7,392 international runs as captain, and Babar needs 314 more to pass him.

At his current pace, that milestone could come soon. Babar also holds a clear edge in centuries as captain, with 15 to Misbah’s 8.

Ricky Ponting Still Leads the Global List

Babar has matched a national record, but the overall international list is another matter. Australia’s Ricky Ponting is comfortably ahead with 15,440 runs and 129 fifty-plus scores in 324 matches as captain.

South Africa’s Graeme Smith is second with 110, and India’s Virat Kohli is third with 99. New Zealand’s Stephen Fleming and India’s MS Dhoni complete the top five.

Most 50-Plus Scores as Captain in International Cricket

What It Means for Babar

Babar sits well behind Ponting, but he has played far fewer matches as captain than anyone above him. With 153 games behind him, the gap is not as wide as the raw totals suggest.

The numbers show a captain who produces consistently. The next question is whether he can turn more of these fifties into centuries and push past Misbah on the runs list.

Also read: Mike Hesson set to continue as Pakistan Test head coach until end of current WTC cycle.