Pakistan’s cricket captain, Babar Azam, has etched his name in the annals of cricket history by becoming the most successful men’s T20I captain following Pakistan’s emphatic seven-wicket victory over Ireland. The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed this milestone after Pakistan secured their 45th win under Azam’s captaincy.
In a thrilling encounter against Ireland, Pakistan chased down an impressive target of 194 runs with more than three overs to spare. Despite Azam’s dismissal early in the innings, Pakistan’s victory was sealed through a remarkable 140-run partnership between Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman.
This victory not only marked a significant milestone for Babar Azam but also propelled him past Uganda’s Brian Masaba, placing him ahead of illustrious former captains such as England’s Eoin Morgan, India’s MS Dhoni, and Australia’s Aaron Finch in terms of T20I wins.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, extended his heartfelt congratulations to Azam in Dublin, where he presented the captain with a jersey commemorating his 45 T20I wins. Naqvi also honored fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi for his achievement of taking 300 international wickets during the match against Ireland.
The three-match series between Pakistan and Ireland now stands leveled at 1-1, following Pakistan’s win. Notably, Ireland had pulled off an upset victory in the series opener by defeating the 2009 T20 world champions by five wickets.
Looking ahead, Pakistan is set to embark on a four-match T20I series against England after the final match of the Ireland series. The series will commence at Headingley on May 22, followed by matches in Birmingham (May 25), Cardiff (May 28), and The Oval, London (May 30). Subsequently, both England and Pakistan will gear up for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
England will kick off their campaign against Scotland in Barbados on June 4, while Pakistan is scheduled to face the United States (US) in Dallas on June 6. One of the most anticipated clashes of the tournament will see Pakistan take on arch-rivals India on June 9 in New York, promising an electrifying spectacle for cricket enthusiasts worldwide.
