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Babar Azam returned to Test cricket with a stupendous half-century against Bangladesh, and with this, he has now equalled the massive record of Australian red-ball veteran Steve Smith.
Pakistan are currently on their tour to Bangladesh, and they are featuring in a two-match Test series between the two sides. Pakistan lost the first Test against Bangladesh after a humiliating batting collapse at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Dhaka.
Having lost to Bangladesh in the first Test in Dhaka, Pakistan has slipped to the eighth position in the WTC points table. Not only did they lose their first game against Bangladesh, but they were also docked eight points for a slow over-rate.
Babar Azam's half-century helped Pakistan recover from a batting collapse
Babar Azam, the veteran Pakistani batter, was not part of the playing XI for Pakistan for the first Test in Dhaka. The veteran batter, after a promising season in the PSL, was reported injured and was hence not available for the first Test in Dhaka.
After several controversies surrounding his availability, Babar has been backed in the second game, and the star batter has replaced Imam-ul-Haq, the opener, in the second Test. Babar scored a splendid half-century on his return to the red-ball side.
Babar's innings was truly reflective of his fine standards and good form as he scored 68 runs off 84 balls with ten boundaries in his innings. This innings came under circumstances when the other Pakistani batters once again struggled against the seamers of the home side.
Babar Azam equalled Steve Smith's WTC record
This marked the second century for Babar in this season of the ICC World Test Championship. He was part of the former series against South Africa, and across the four innings, he scored just one half-century.
This time, he went on to score the twentieth half-century of his WTC career, and with this, he has now equalled the record of legendary Australian batter Steve Smith, who also has 20 half-centuries in the history of the WTC.
Only the likes of Joe Root, the English veteran, and Marnus Labuschagne remain. The two batters with more 50+ scores than these two veterans are. Shockingly, Babar becomes the first Asian batter on this list.
Most 50s in WTC history:
— Sheri. (@CallMeSheri1_) May 17, 2026
Marnus Labuschagne – 24
Joe Root – 22
Babar Azam – 20*
Steve Smith – 20
Zak Crawley – 20
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Nahid Rana returned with a second spell to dismiss Babar Azam
Nahid Rana, the lanky right-handed pacer who played a monumental role in Bangladesh's success against Pakistan in the second innings of the first Test at Dhaka, returned with a second spell this time and picked a crucial wicket as well.
After a partnership was building between Babar Azam and Salman Ali Agha, Nahid Rana returned to dismiss Babar, who was looking strong with a promising half-century. With that dismissal, half of the Pakistan batters were back into the dugout.
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