Babar Azam breaks Virat Kohli's record and becomes fastest batsman to 2,000 T20 runs

Pakistan captain reaches milestone in just 52 innings

Pakistan's Babar Azam scored a fifty against Zimbabwe in the third T20 at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday, April 25. AFP

Pakistan's Babar Azam became the quickest to 2,000 runs in T20 internationals. AFP

Babar Azam during the third Twenty20 against Zimbabwe in Harare. AFP

Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan hit 91 from 60 balls against Zimbabwe in the third T20. AFP

Zimbabwe's Richard Ngarava fields off his own bowling during the third Twenty20. AFP

Zimbabwe's Wellington Masakadza appeals for a wicket to umpire Iknow Chab in Harare. AFP

Pakistan's Sharjeel Khan made 18 on Sunday. AFP

Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan celebrates after reaching his fifty. AFP

Zimbabwe's Ryan Burl fields off his own bowling. AFP

Pakistan captain Babar Azam broke yet another record on what is proving to be a highly successful tour of Africa as he became the fastest batsman to 2,000 runs in T20 Internationals.

Azam reached the milestone during the third T20 against Zimbabwe in Harare on Sunday as he made 52 off 46 balls in their 24-run victory. The Pakistan captain completed 2,000 runs in his 52nd innings, which is four fewer than the previous record held by Virat Kohli.

Azam had taken the No1 ODI ranking from Kohli during the preceding South Africa tour and has now snatched the T20 record from the India captain as well.

Azam's innings, and Mohammad Rizwan's 91 runs off 60 balls, helped Pakistan post 165-3 in their 20 overs against Zimbabwe in the third and final match.

Rizwan scored three sixes and five fours as the tourists exceeded the expectations of captain Azam, who believed it would be a challenge to surpass 140 on a bowler-friendly pitch.

Rizwan has had mixed fortunes in the series, posting an unbeaten 82 in the first match but only 13 in the second.

After the loss of recalled Sharjeel Khan for 18 off the last ball of the fourth over, Rizwan and Azam put on 126 runs for the second wicket before the captain was out for 52 in the third ball of the final over.

Azam faced 46 balls in 64 minutes and his total included five fours.

Medium pacer Luke Jongwe, the star of a shock 19-run Zimbabwe victory in the second match, was once again the most impressive bowler, taking the three wickets while conceding 37 runs in four overs.

ZImbabwe reached 141-7 in reply, with opener Wesley Madhevere top-scoring with 59 off 47 balls, while Pakistan's Hasan Ali took 4-18 from his four overs as Pakistan secured a second T20 series victory on the tour having beaten South Africa 3-1

The T20 series will be followed by two Tests, also in Harare, beginning on April 29 and May 7.