PAK vs AUS: Babar Azam overtakes Fakhar Zaman's record in T20I cricket

Former Pakistan white-ball captain Babar Azam etched his name in the record books during the first T20I match against Australia on Thursday, overtaking Fakhar Zaman’s record to become the player with the most catches in T20I cricket for Pakistan.

Babar, with 52 catches to his name, surpassed Fakhar Zaman, who had previously held the record with 50 catches. Shoaib Malik also shares the second spot with Zaman, while Umar Akmal and Shadab Khan follow with 39 and 36 catches, respectively.

Most Catches for Pakistan in T20Is:

• Babar Azam – 52 catches
• Fakhar Zaman – 50 catches
• Shoaib Malik – 50 catches
• Umar Akmal – 39 catches
• Shadab Khan – 36 catches

The match, however, was overshadowed by weather interruptions, with the game reduced to just seven overs per side due to persistent rain delays. Australia set a challenging target, posting 93/4 in their allotted overs.

Australia's explosive start, led by openers Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matthew Short, took the game by storm. The duo managed a blistering 16 runs off the first over, with Fraser-McGurk contributing a quick 9 runs before being dismissed by Naseem Shah. Glenn Maxwell then took charge, smashing a rapid 43 runs off 19 balls, featuring five boundaries and three sixes. His performance was pivotal in Australia’s dominant position despite the loss of Short and Tim David. Marcus Stoinis added a final flourish with a quick 21 off seven balls, helping Australia finish on 93/4.

Pakistan's bowlers, including Mohammad Abbas and Shaheen Shah Afridi, took three wickets but struggled to contain the runs, particularly during the final overs of Australia’s innings.

In reply, Pakistan’s chase faltered from the outset. Despite a solid 12-run opening over, the Men in Green collapsed under pressure. Xavier Bartlett's fiery spell of 3/13 rattled Pakistan's top order, dismissing key players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan cheaply. By the third over, Pakistan found themselves at a dismal 20/5, with Bartlett and Nathan Ellis (3/9) causing havoc. The only resistance came from Mohammad Abbas Afridi, who remained unbeaten on 20*. However, the rest of the batting crumbled as Pakistan finished at 64/9, falling well short of the revised target of 94.

Australia’s comprehensive 29-run victory handed them a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series.