On November 18, 2025, at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Babar Azam didn’t just lose a battle—he lost his wicket in the most brutal way possible. Facing just three balls from Zimbabwe’s fast bowler Brad Evans, the former Pakistan captain was lbw for a golden duck. The first two deliveries swung away, the third cut back in, and Babar, frozen at the crease, didn’t move a muscle. His review was denied. The scoreboard read 0. And with that, he became the first player in International T20 cricket history to be dismissed for a duck nine times—surpassing the legendary Shahid Afridi, who held the unwanted record with eight.
A Record No One Wanted
It’s hard to imagine a batter of Babar Azam’s caliber—once hailed as the future of Pakistan cricket—carrying this kind of burden. Nine ducks in 134 T20Is. That’s one out of every 15 innings. For context, Virat Kohli has only four ducks in 128 matches. Babar’s average of 39.56 looks solid until you realize how many times he’s walked back without scoring. The pattern was chilling: poor form, dropped from the team, then recalled as a stopgap. He missed the Asia Cup 2025 entirely. Came back against Sri Lanka—scored 12. Then came this match against Zimbabwe. Three balls. Zero runs. Another duck. The crowd fell silent. Even the commentators didn’t speak for a full 10 seconds.The Comeback That Defied Logic
But here’s the twist: four days later, in the same stadium, Babar Azam played one of the most defiant innings of his career. Against the same Zimbabwe side, he walked in with pressure mounting and the team needing stability. He faced 52 balls. Scored 74. Seven fours. Two sixes. Strike rate: 142.31. It wasn’t just a knock—it was a statement. His partnership of 103 runs with Sahibzada Farhan (63 off 41) turned the game. Pakistan posted 195/5. Zimbabwe, chasing 196, collapsed to 126 all out after Usman Tariq ripped through them with a hat-trick in the 10th over. Pakistan won by 69 runs. Babar was Player of the Match.That innings wasn’t just about runs. It was his 38th T20I half-century—tying him with Virat Kohli for the most in the format. It was also his fourth half-century against Zimbabwe, a team he’s always seemed to dominate. And it came after a six-match scoring drought in T20Is. He hadn’t crossed 30 in his previous six innings. This was the kind of performance that makes you question whether the record he broke was really his fault—or just the cruel randomness of sport.
More Than a Duck, More Than a Fifty
Babar’s career stats still stand tall: 4,392 runs in 134 matches, 38 half-centuries, 3 centuries, a highest score of 122. He’s the leading run-scorer in T20I history—ahead of Rohit Sharma. He’s also tied with Afridi on 73 sixes. One more and he’ll be second on Pakistan’s all-time list, behind only Mohammad Hafeez (76). He’s not just a batter—he’s a statistical anomaly. A man who can go from zero to hero in the space of a single innings.His comeback wasn’t just about numbers. It was about resilience. After being dropped, he trained in isolation. He worked on his footwork against spin. He studied footage of his own dismissals—especially those early edges and LBWs. He didn’t blame the pitch. He didn’t blame the selectors. He just kept showing up. And when the call came for the Tri-Series against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, he was ready—not just to play, but to lead.
He followed the 74 with a composed 102* in the next ODI. Three matches. 165 runs. That’s not a fluke. That’s a man reclaiming his identity. Even his critics had to admit: this wasn’t luck. This was mastery under fire.
What’s Next for Babar?
Pakistan’s next major assignment is the T20 World Cup in 2026. Babar’s form, especially under pressure, will be pivotal. His ability to anchor the top order—after the chaos of early wickets—is unmatched. But the question remains: Can he shake off the ghost of the duck? Can he turn a record of failure into a record of redemption? The cricket world is watching. And so are the young batsmen in Pakistan’s academy, who now see that even the greatest can fall… and rise again.
Behind the Stats: Why This Matters
Babar’s journey reflects the brutal truth of modern cricket: form is temporary, legacy is eternal. He’s not just a player. He’s a symbol. Of pressure. Of expectation. Of what happens when a nation puts its entire batting future on one man’s shoulders. His ducks don’t define him. His comebacks do.He’s the only Pakistani batter to have scored over 4,000 T20I runs. He’s the only one to have averaged above 39 in 130+ matches. He’s the only one to have led Pakistan in more than 60 T20Is. And now, he’s the only one to have survived nine ducks and still stood tall.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many ducks does Babar Azam have in T20Is, and why is this record significant?
Babar Azam now holds the record for the most ducks (0s) in International T20 cricket with nine dismissals, surpassing Shahid Afridi’s previous record of eight. This is significant because it highlights the inconsistency in his early innings despite his elite overall stats—making his 38 half-centuries and 4,392 runs even more remarkable.
Did Babar Azam break any other records in the Zimbabwe series?
Yes. His 74 against Zimbabwe was his 38th T20I half-century, tying him with Virat Kohli for the most in the format. He also moved within four sixes of overtaking Mohammad Hafeez to become Pakistan’s second-highest T20I six-hitter, behind only Hafeez’s 76.
Why was Babar Azam dropped from the team before this series?
He was dropped after failing to score above 30 in six consecutive T20Is and missing the Asia Cup 2025 due to poor form. The Pakistan selectors wanted to give younger players a chance, but his consistent domestic performances and leadership qualities led to his recall for the Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka tri-series.
How does Babar Azam’s T20I record compare to other global stars?
Babar is the all-time leading run-scorer in T20Is with 4,392 runs, ahead of Rohit Sharma (4,201). He also leads in T20I matches captained (63) and is tied with Virat Kohli for most half-centuries (38). Only Rohit and Kohli have more T20I appearances than him among active players.
What impact did Babar’s performance have on Pakistan’s chances in the tri-series?
His 74 in the fourth match helped Pakistan post 195, which proved decisive when Zimbabwe collapsed to 126. Combined with his 102* in the ODI, Babar’s 165 runs in three matches were the backbone of Pakistan’s campaign, securing their place in the tri-series final.
Is Babar Azam still considered Pakistan’s best T20I batter despite his ducks?
Absolutely. His consistency in high-pressure chases, leadership under fire, and ability to score big when the team needs it most still make him the most reliable batter in Pakistan’s T20I lineup. The ducks are a statistical anomaly, not a reflection of his overall quality or value to the team.