In a significant milestone, Pakistan's captain, Babar Azam, surpassed Virat Kohli to become the leading run-scorer in T20 Internationals. Babar achieved this feat during Pakistan's Group A encounter against the USA in Dallas, where he showcased his batting prowess with a score of 44 runs off 43 balls. This innings propelled his overall T20I run tally to 4067 runs from 113 innings, surpassing Kohli's record of 4038 runs from 110 outings.
Trailing behind Babar and Kohli in the all-time tally is the Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, who currently holds the third position with 4026 runs from 144 innings. Notably, all three stalwarts are set to feature in the highly anticipated match between India and Pakistan at the Nassau County Stadium in New York on Sunday.
Completing the top-five list are Ireland's captain, Paul Stirling, and former New Zealand opener Martin Guptill. Babar's achievement underscores his consistency and skill as an opening batsman for Pakistan. Against the USA, despite Pakistan's challenging start after being put in to bat first, Babar anchored the innings with his well-crafted knock, which included two sixes and three fours.
Apart from Babar, Shadab Khan contributed significantly with a brisk 40 runs off 25 balls, while Shaheen Shah Afridi's cameo towards the end bolstered Pakistan's total to 159/7. However, the USA's bowling attack, led by left-arm spinner Noshtush Kenjinge, posed a challenge, with Kenjinge picking up three crucial wickets. Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan, and Jasdeep Singh also made notable contributions, collectively restricting Pakistan's scoring opportunities.