5 Milestones Babar Azam Can Achieve in World Cup 2023

image-ln8wraxhBabar in action for Pakistan [Twitter]

Babar Azam is Pakistan's milestone man heading into the 2023 World Cup in India. The modern-day Pakistani giant has been breaking records for fun since hitting his peak at the crease. Even the weight of captaincy hasn’t ruffled his feathers, it has instead allowed the elegant right-hander to stand out amidst the pack under pressure and elevate his status in world cricket.

A player of amazing class and pedigree, Babar has been incredibly consistent in One-Day Internationals and is attracting widespread praise for his talent and prowess. The childhood prodigy has gone on to vindicate prominent experts who had always identified him as one of Pakistan's brightest. 

For Pakistan to come out triumphant at the coming 50-over World Cup on Indian shores, there is little doubt Babar will have to notch different heights with his game and dominate opposition attacks while recording further milestones next to his name. 

There are five such milestones in his sight at the quadrennial event in October-November which would not only help him push Pakistan towards the ultimate glory but also enter the esteemed list of bonafide greats in the white-ball game. 


1) Highest ODI run-getter of the last four years

Amassing 2,196 runs at an average of 66.54 and strike-rate of 93.72 with 9 hundreds and 13 half-centuries, Babar is the second-highest ODI run-maker in the world since the conclusion of the previous World Cup in England. 

With West Indies and their numero uno scorer Shai Hope not making this World Cup, Babar has the chance to establish himself as the top run-getter of the last four years in ODIs. Amongst active World Cup players, only the prodigiously talented Shubman Gill (1901) and master batter Virat Kohli (1797) are close to him on the list. 


2) Most runs at a men's World Cup 

Since the 2023 edition of the World Cup retains the round-robin format, a highly consistent batter like Babar has a great opportunity at hand. With nine league-stage encounters guaranteed before the knock-out matches, Babar could be a serious contender to break an incredible record held by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar for now. 

He could achieve the most runs milestone at a men's World Cup, potentially surpassing maestro Tendulkar's 673 runs made over 11 innings at the 2003 edition of the World Cup in South Africa. 


3) Most runs by a Pakistani at men's World Cup 

Babar could be heading into only his second men's 50-over World Cup but he is in line to become the highest-ever Pakistani men's run-scorer in the tournament history. He struck a magnificent century against New Zealand in Manchester and finished the 2019 edition with 474 runs from eight innings. 

The right-hander is behind table-topper Javed Miandad by 10 spots on the list. However, if Babar finds his best form and notches up 610 runs at the coming World Cup, he will surpass Miandad, who created his record over 33 matches in six different editions of the competition from 1975 to 1996.


4) Most runs by Pakistan captain at the World Cup 

If he breaks the Miandad milestone, Babar would also look to bag the record held by Pakistan's finest-ever allrounder and former skipper Imran Khan. Khan, who led Pakistan to their only men's World Cup crown back in 1992 in Australia, boasts of the most runs as captain for his country in the tournament's history. 

But if Babar goes past 615 runs during the competition in India, he will leave the great Khan behind in the golden pack to become the Pakistan captain with most runs in the World Cup. 


5) Most centuries in World Cup as player and captain for Pakistan 

Hitting centuries for fun in his prime years, Babar needs to raise his bat only twice during this World Cup to become Pakistan skipper with the most centuries in the quadrennial event. Notably, Imran Khan is the only Pakistan men's captain till date to produce a World Cup century. Babar can easily surpass him in the list and push his case to become Pakistan's most frequent century-maker in tournament history. 

Great One-Day batter of his times, Saeed Anwar currently holds that record with three centuries. But given the consistency with which Babar has been shattering records, even Anwar's milestone is not safe.