RAWALPINDI: Pakistan all-format skipper Babar Azam is just one win away from breaking another headline record as a team captain when his side meets New Zealand in the fourth PAK vs NZ T20I, here at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Babar has the opportunity to etch his name as the captain with the most number of wins in the shortest format of the game during the upcoming encounter against the visitors.
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So far, he is the joint-holder of this record with Afghanistan’s Asghar Afghan and England’s Eoin Morgan after 42 wins.
The 28-year-old has captained the Green Shirts in 69 T20 international matches. It will be a double delight for Babar if he secures a victory in his 70th T20I match as a skipper. He can wrap up the five-game series along with becoming the captain with the most number of wins in the format with 43 victories.
It is pertinent to mention here that Babar has captained the Pakistan T20I side more than any other captain in history. He was given the reins back in 2019 following the ouster of former all-format captain Sarfaraz Ahmed.
Under his captaincy, Pakistan reached the semifinals of two successive T20 World Cups -2021 and 2022 – and finished as runner-ups in the latter.
It must be noted here that the ongoing five-game series took an interesting turn on Monday after New Zealand won their maiden T20I against Pakistan on the latter’s home soil last night and reduced the hosts’ advantage to 2-1.
In the third PAK v NZ T20I, Pakistan failed just four runs short of victory while chasing 164 as the home side could raise 159 before bundling out on the final delivery despite Iftikhar’s quickfire 60.
The Rawalpindi pitch, known for delivering high-scoring contests because of its batting-friendly nature, will host the last two matches of PAK vs NZ T20I series on April 20 and 24, respectively.
READ: PAK vs NZ: Run-fest expected on batting-friendly Pindi pitches