Babar Azam equals Misbah-ul-Haq’s Pakistan captaincy record during 1st Test against Sri Lanka

Babar Azam equals Misbah-ul-Haq’s Pakistan captaincy record during 1st Test against Sri Lanka

Babar Azam Matches Misbah-ul-Haq’s Pakistan Captaincy Record in Rawalpindi Test

Pakistan captain Babar Azam reached a significant career milestone during the opening Test against Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Monday, November 9. His composed half-century brought him level with Misbah-ul-Haq for the most fifty-plus scores by a Pakistan captain across international cricket.

Babar made 50 from 58 deliveries, striking seven boundaries before Sri Lanka’s Dilshan Madushanka ended his promising innings. The landmark was another reminder of Babar’s consistency at the top level, even though the Pakistan skipper was unable to turn his start into a century.

Pakistan’s Newcomers Make an Encouraging Start

The first day also marked a substantial reshaping of Pakistan’s Test side, with Tayyab Arif, Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Taha and Saqib Khan all making their Test debuts. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, opted for a pace-heavy attack featuring four fast bowlers, a selection that gave the visitors several options to challenge Pakistan with movement and bounce.

Pakistan’s opening pair provided a steady platform. Azan Awais scored 30, while debutant Tayyab Arif contributed a brisk 57. Their partnership helped the hosts build early momentum before Babar arrived at the crease with the score at 90 for two. His task was to maintain that progress and anchor the innings against Sri Lanka’s new-ball attack.

Babar looked comfortable, finding the boundary regularly and showing patience when the bowlers tested him outside off stump. His 50 came at a useful rate, but the innings ended soon after the break, leaving Pakistan to continue without their most experienced batter at the crease.

Madushanka Claims His First Test Wicket

Madushanka delivered the key breakthrough with his maiden Test wicket. Bowling from around the wicket, the left-arm seamer sent down a full delivery near the off-stump line. The ball pitched and moved away just enough to defeat Babar’s attempted straight-bat drive.

Babar edged the delivery, and wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis completed the catch safely. It was a well-planned dismissal: Madushanka used his angle to draw the batter into the shot, then relied on late movement to find the outside edge. The wicket gave Sri Lanka a valuable opening after Babar had begun to settle into his innings.

Although Babar reached his half-century, the dismissal meant he missed the chance to build a larger score. For Pakistan, his departure placed added importance on the remaining batters, particularly the debutants, as they sought to convert a solid start into a commanding first-innings total.

How Babar Reached the 70 Fifty-Plus Score Landmark

The innings took Babar to 70 fifty-plus scores as Pakistan captain across formats, matching Misbah’s national record. Babar has reached the mark in 164 innings across 153 matches as skipper. Misbah also recorded 70 such scores, doing so in 189 innings while captaining Pakistan in 151 matches.

The comparison highlights both leaders’ sustained contribution to Pakistan cricket, while also reflecting the different stages and demands of their careers. Babar’s milestone came in fewer innings, underlining the frequency with which he has produced substantial scores as captain. The figure includes innings of 50 or more runs across Tests, one-day internationals and T20 internationals.

Babar also brought his total to 144 fifty-plus scores in international cricket across all three formats. That broader tally places the Rawalpindi half-century within a long record of reliable run-scoring, rather than making it a milestone limited to his captaincy years.

Pakistan Captains on the Record List

Misbah remains alongside Babar at the top of Pakistan’s list for captaincy fifty-plus scores. Inzamam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan and Javed Miandad complete the top five, representing generations of Pakistan leadership and batting excellence.

Babar has another major national record within reach. He needs 314 additional international runs as captain to move past Misbah’s total of 7,392 and become Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in that category. That prediction will depend on his opportunities to lead and bat across formats, but the Rawalpindi milestone shows how close he is to another notable achievement.

Ponting Leads the International Captaincy Rankings

While Babar has matched Misbah’s Pakistan record, Australia great Ricky Ponting remains the leading captain in the wider international comparison. Ponting scored 15,440 runs and registered 129 fifty-plus scores in 324 matches as captain across all formats.

South Africa’s Graeme Smith is second on the list with 110 half-centuries, followed by India’s Virat Kohli with 99. New Zealand’s Stephen Fleming and former India captain MS Dhoni complete the top five. The figures demonstrate the remarkable longevity required to build a substantial record as an international captain, where leadership responsibilities must be balanced with consistent personal performance.

A Milestone Amid a Bigger Test Challenge

Babar’s record-equalling fifty was a personal highlight on a day that also introduced four new Pakistan Test players to the international stage. The captain’s innings offered stability, while Madushanka’s breakthrough showed how quickly the balance of a Test match can shift when a bowler finds movement and a batter misjudges the line.

For Pakistan, the immediate focus remained on making the most of the opening-day platform and helping the newcomers settle into Test cricket. For Babar, the achievement added another entry to his captaincy record book—and brought the prospect of surpassing Misbah’s run-scoring mark a little closer.

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