Babar breaks 16-year Pakistan run record

Pakistan captain Babar Azam broke a 16 year record as he became his country’s highest run scorer in a calendar year.

In doing so, the 28-year-old surpassed Mohammad Yousuf’s 2,435 in 2006.

Babar, who helped his side to 317-5 in their first innings against the Kiwis, also has the most runs in Tests this year with 1,170 runs in nine matches.

New Zealand failed to take two chances to dismiss the Pakistan skipper, with Daryl Mitchell spilling a catch at first slip when Babar was on 12 and fielder Devon Conway missing the stumps when the batter was well short of his crease on 54.

It was also Babar’s 25th international score in excess of 50 during the calendar year, again across Test, one-day international and Twenty20 international cricket – equalling the record set by Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara in 2014.

Pakistan are aiming to bounce back from their recent 3-0 Test series defeat at home by England.