Pakistan star Babar Azam on Wednesday became the fastest batsman to reach the milestone of 10,000 T20 runs, leaving behind players like Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli. He is the fastest player to achieve this feat in terms of innings, matches and time. Babar achieved this historic feat during his innings of 72 runs in his team Peshawar Zalmi’s seven-wicket defeat against Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League. Before the game in Lahore, Babar was just six runs short of the 10,000-run mark. Babar reached there in 271 innings, 281 matches and 11 years and 82 days.

West Indies legend Gayle achieved this milestone in 285 innings, 290 matches and 11 years and 215 days. Meanwhile, India’s star batsman Kohli achieved it in 299 innings, 314 matches and 14 years and 176 days.

Former Pakistan team director Mohammad Hafeez recently revealed about the conversation he had with star batsmen Babar and Mohammad Rizwan during the recently concluded T20 series against New Zealand.

Pakistan avoided a whitewash during the five-match T20I series by registering a 42-run win in the final game and ended their tour 4-1.

During the first three matches of the series, Babar showed glimpses of returning to his peak after poor performances in last year’s World Cup and Test series against Australia.

Against the Kiwis, the veteran batsman registered scores of 57, 66 and 58. Overall in the series, he scored 213 runs at an average of 42.6.

Hafeez opened up about the conversation he had with Babar, during which he stressed the importance of the contribution of each player who plays a major role in the team’s achievements.

“You are a great player, you are a wonderful player and you are playing brilliant cricket; however, you have to develop the Pakistan team,” Hafeez said in an interview as quoted by Geo News.

The former team director suggested Rizwan and Babar to adapt to the situational change. He revealed that he appreciated Babar’s talent and ability but urged him to play at number three instead of opening for the team.

Hafeez said, “We need to develop a team and for this I want you to come at number three because you have been playing this role in ODI cricket for the last six years.”

(With ANI inputs)