Lahore, October 13, 2025 – Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam scripted history on the opening day of the first Test against South Africa at Gaddafi Stadium, becoming the first Asian to reach 3,000 runs in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC). The 30-year-old achieved the feat with a streaky boundary off Senuran Muthusamy in the 49th over, surpassing India’s Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli to join an elite club as the eighth overall batter globally, trailing Australia’s Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne.
Babar, who debuted in Tests against West Indies in 2016, has now scored 4,235 runs in 59 matches, with 13 centuries and a best of 196. His WTC tally stands at 3,021 runs, cementing his place as Pakistan’s top run-getter in the competition. Despite falling for 23, trapped lbw by Simon Harmer, his milestone lifted Pakistan to 258 all out, with Shan Masood (84) and Imam-ul-Haq (74) starring. As South Africa trail by 55 at stumps, Babar’s feat sparks hope for a resurgent Pakistan in the 2025-27 WTC cycle
