Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam has etched his name deeper into the history of red-ball cricket by matching a massive World Test Championship (WTC) milestone previously held by Australian batting maestro Steve Smith.
The achievement unfolded on May 17, 2026, during day two of the second and final Test match against Bangladesh at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
The Milestone
Babar crossed the milestone during a gritty batting display against a disciplined Bangladeshi bowling attack, bringing up his 31st overall career Test half-century. This knock marked Babar’s 20th fifty in the World Test Championship since the tournament’s inception in 2019.
Babar achieved this feat in his 39th Test appearance within the WTC structure, solidifying his status as one of the most consistent red-ball anchoring batsmen in the modern era.
Also on ABP Live | Sreeleela Dating This Mumbai Indians Star? Fans Decode Viral ‘Evidence’
Joint Third on All-Time List
By recording his 20th WTC half-century, Babar has moved into a shared third place on the elite all-time leaderboards. He now sits completely level with Australia’s Steve Smith and England’s opening batsman Zak Crawley.
Most Half-Centuries in WTC History
The race for the most half-centuries in WTC history remains tightly contested among top-tier international batsmen:
Marnus Labuschagne (Australia) – 24 WTC half-centuries
Joe Root (England) – 22 WTC half-centuries
Babar Azam (Pakistan) – 20* WTC half-centuries
Steve Smith (Australia) – 20 WTC half-centuries
Zak Crawley (England) – 20 WTC half-centuries
Also on ABP Live | Virat Kohli Reveals The ‘Best Decision’ Anushka Helped Him Make
Crucial Innings for Pakistan
Beyond the individual statistical milestone, Babar’s half-century came at a critical juncture for Shan Masood’s side. Following early wickets harvested by Bangladesh’s Taskin Ahmed and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Babar’s steady presence in the middle provided Pakistan with essential stabilization on a tricky, spinning Sylhet surface.
Also on ABP Live | MS Dhoni To Play CSK vs SRH IPL 2026 Match? Big Update On ‘Farewell Match’
Before You Go
Pakistan In Turmoil: India Celebrates, Pakistan Reacts in Anger After Crushing Defeat
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: abplive.com
