PAK vs IRE: Babar Azam equals Virat Kohli’s T20I record

Pakistan’s white-ball captain Babar Azam equalled the record of India’s Virat Kohli of scoring the most 50+ scores in T20Is during the match against Ireland at the Clontarf Cricket Club, Dublin, on Friday.

Azam, 29, has now scored 50+ runs 38 times in 108 innings, one less than the former Indian skipper. He has also scored three centuries in the process.

Most 50+ scores in T20Is

Babar Azam: 38 in 108 innings

Virat Kohl: 38 in 109 innings

Rohit Sharma: 34 in 143 innings

Mohammad Rizwan: 27 in 81 innings

David Warner: 27 in 103 innings

Babar was recently re-appointed as Pakistan’s white-ball captain and he is leading the Green Shirts in the first T20I against Ireland. He has now made the most appearances as a skipper in T20Is, breaking former Australian captain Aaron Finch's record.

He has led Pakistan in 77 games while Finch ended his tenure with 76 games.

Most matches as captain in T20Is

Babar Azam: 77 matches

Aaron Finch: 76 matches

MS Dhoni: 72 matches

Eoin Morgan: 72 matches

Kane Williamson: 71 matches

On the other hand, if Pakistan wins today, Babar will become the most successful captain in the history of T20I cricket.

Most T20I wins as captain:

Babar Azam: 44 (76 matches)

Brian Masaba: 44 (56 matches)

Asghar Afghan: 42 (52 matches)

Eoin Morgan: 42 (72 matches)

Earlier today, Ireland won the toss and opted to bowl first against Pakistan.

Playing XIs

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abbas Afridi

Ireland: Paul Stirling (c), Mark Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Barry McCarthy, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Ben White, Craig Young

It is worth mentioning that Pakistan and Ireland are in the same group in the T20 World Cup 2024.

Pakistan's schedule of matches against Ireland

May 10: First T20I at Clontarf

May 12: Second T20I at Clontarf

May 14: Third T20I at Clontarf