Babar Azam Enters Pakistan’s Elite 15,000-Run Club

FAISALABAD: Babar Azam added another major chapter to his career on Saturday, becoming the 5th Pakistani batter to cross 15,000 international runs. He reached the mark during the 3rd ODI against South Africa in Faisalabad.

The moment drew a warm response from the crowd. Fans rose for their favourite batter as the scoreboard confirmed his entry into an elite group featuring Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, and Javed Miandad. Those four shaped eras of Pakistan's batting. Babar Azam now stands alongside them, not just through numbers but through a decade of run-scoring that has carried Pakistan across formats.

Inzamam remains Pakistan’s leading run-scorer with 20,541 runs. Younis follows with 17,790, then Yousuf with 17,134, and Miandad with 16,213. Babar’s arrival at 15,004 runs places him 5th on the list, yet his pace sets him apart. Fans started cheering for him after his remarkable achievement. 

Babar Azam reached the milestone in only 370 innings, faster than the greats before him. That figure reflects more than volume. It highlights a level of reliability that has defined his career from the early years.

His innings in the 3rd ODI ended on 27 from 32 balls. The knock included five crisp boundaries, each met with the familiar roar that now trails him in home conditions. He looked assured against pace and comfortable against spin before a runout ended a promising stay. 

Babar turned 31 last month and remains central to Pakistan’s planning across formats. His consistency in ODIs has shaped multiple campaigns. His T20 numbers continue to hold up in a fast-changing format. His Test record remains the backbone of the middle order. 

This match carried its own significance for the series, but Babar’s landmark gave the afternoon a deeper moment.