Babar Azam WTC record reaches a landmark moment as the star batter makes his mark on return against Bangladesh in Sylhet
Babar Azam made his comeback count. The Pakistan batter returned from injury for the second Test against Bangladesh in Sylhet and delivered exactly when his team needed him most. His composed half-century on Sunday did more than steady Pakistan’s innings. Moreover, it quietly moved him into historic territory in the World Test Championship record books.
The Babar Azam WTC record now stands at 20 half-centuries. That number places him in joint-third position on the all-time list alongside two of the modern era’s most consistent Test performers. Furthermore, only two batters in the entire history of the WTC sit ahead of him on this list.
The timing of the milestone adds another layer to the story. Pakistan lost the first Test by 104 runs. Babar missed that match through injury. His return to the side in Sylhet, therefore, carries significance well beyond personal statistics. It signals that Pakistan’s most important batter is back and ready to lead the fightback in a series they cannot afford to lose.
His place on the WTC list also remains very much alive. He is an active participant in the championship with more cricket still to come. Therefore, the players ahead of him are targets, not permanent fixtures.
WTC Half-Century Leaders
Here is the updated list of players with the most fifties in World Test Championship history.
- Marnus Labuschagne (Australia) – 24 fifties
- Joe Root (England) – 22 fifties
- Babar Azam (Pakistan) – 20 fifties*
- Steve Smith (Australia) – 20 fifties
- Zak Crawley (England) – 20 fifties
