Babar Azam reaches 16,000 international runs in 399 innings, Pakistan's third fastest
Synopsis
At just 32, Babar Azam has become only the fifth Pakistan batter to reach 16,000 international runs — and he did it in 399 innings, faster than all but two Pakistan legends. The milestone arrived in a measured 45-run knock against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi, underlining that despite a turbulent captaincy chapter, Babar's bat remains elite.
Key Takeaways
Babar Azam completed 16,000 international runs on 18 October 2026 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium .
He is only the fifth Pakistan batter to reach the milestone, joining Javed Miandad , Mohammad Yousuf , Inzamam-ul-Haq , and Younis Khan .
At 399 innings , Babar is Pakistan's third fastest to 16,000 runs, behind Yousuf ( 388 ) and Miandad ( 398 ).
He scored 45 off 57 balls with six fours before being dismissed by Eshan Malinga .
Pakistan are hosting a seven-match ODI tri-series with Sri Lanka and England ; the final is on 31 October at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore .
Babar Azam etched his name deeper into Pakistan cricket history on Sunday, 18 October 2026, becoming only the fifth Pakistani batter to cross 16,000 international runs across all formats — and achieving the feat in just 399 innings, making him the third fastest player from his country to the milestone. The landmark arrived during the first ODI of the home tri-series against Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, with England also participating in the three-nation tournament.
How the milestone unfolded
Coming into the match needing just seven runs to reach the mark, Babar wasted no time. Pakistan were sent in to bat by Sri Lanka, and Babar walked in at No. 3 after Saim Ayub was caught at mid-off in the third over, dismissed by Dilshan Madushanka. The 32-year-old opened his account with a crisp drive off Asitha Fernando, followed by another off-side drive worth three runs — enough to take him past the 16,000-run mark.
He did not stop there. Babar went on to contribute 45 runs off 57 balls, laced with six fours, before being dismissed by Eshan Malinga. It was the kind of stroke-filled knock that has defined his career — elegant, unhurried, and purposeful.
Where Babar stands in Pakistan's record books
Only two Pakistan batters have reached 16,000 international runs faster. Mohammad Yousuf got there in 388 innings, while Javed Miandad did it in 398 innings. Babar's 399 innings places him just behind those two legends. The other members of the exclusive club are Inzamam-ul-Haq and Younis Khan, completing a five-man list that represents the cream of Pakistan batting across generations.
The tri-series context
The milestone comes as Pakistan host a seven-match ODI tri-series featuring Sri Lanka and England at home. The tournament, which began on Sunday, follows a double round-robin format, with the final scheduled between the top two teams at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on 31 October. The series represents an important stretch of white-ball cricket for all three sides ahead of the ICC calendar.
Babar's place in the game
The former Pakistan white-ball captain, Babar, has long been regarded as one of the premier batters of his generation across all formats. Reaching 16,000 runs at just 32 years of age leaves him considerable runway to climb further up Pakistan's all-time list. Notably, Younis Khan — Pakistan's leading run-scorer in international cricket — accumulated his runs over a lengthy career, suggesting Babar has room to close that gap.
Point of View
000-run landmark reinforces that individual brilliance can persist through institutional turbulence — he lost the white-ball captaincy amid team performance scrutiny, yet the runs keep coming. The more revealing figure is the innings count: 399, placing him ahead of Inzamam and Younis in terms of efficiency. The question now is trajectory — can he challenge Younis Khan's overall Pakistan record, and does consistent form at ODI level rebuild the case for restored leadership? Pakistan selectors will be watching as closely as the statisticians.
NationPress
18 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many international runs has Babar Azam scored?
Babar Azam has scored 16,000 international runs across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, reaching the milestone on 18 October 2026 against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi. He is the fifth Pakistan batter to achieve this mark.
Who are the five Pakistan batters with 16,000 or more international runs?
The five Pakistan batters to reach 16,000 international runs are Javed Miandad , Mohammad Yousuf , Inzamam-ul-Haq , Younis Khan , and now Babar Azam . Younis Khan holds the highest aggregate among Pakistani batters in international cricket.
How quickly did Babar Azam reach 16,000 international runs?
Babar reached the milestone in 399 innings , making him Pakistan's third fastest to 16,000 runs. Only Mohammad Yousuf (388 innings) and Javed Miandad (398 innings) were quicker among Pakistan batters.
What is the ODI tri-series Babar Azam is playing in?
Pakistan are hosting a seven-match ODI tri-series featuring Sri Lanka and England in a double round-robin format. The series began on 18 October 2026 , with the final scheduled at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on 31 October 2026 .
How did Babar Azam reach the 16,000-run milestone in the Rawalpindi ODI?
Babar needed just seven runs coming into the match. He walked in at No. 3, opened his account with a drive off Asitha Fernando , and another off-side drive of three runs took him past the mark. He went on to score 45 off 57 balls with six fours before being dismissed by Eshan Malinga .
