Babar Azam
Babar’s last Test century came on December 26, 2022, when he made a brilliant 161 against New Zealand in Karachi. That innings was his ninth Test hundred and capped a remarkable 2022 in which he scored 1,184 Test runs, including four centuries. The 41 at Melbourne was his highest Test score of the period at the time, but it was another innings that ended before he could build a substantial score. Babar’s struggles became even more pronounced in 2024. Against Bangladesh, he managed 0, 22, 31 and 11 across the two Tests. Then came the home series against England, where he made only 30 in the first Test at Multan. Babar began 2025 with that 81 against South Africa as one of the highlights of the year. Across the two-Test series, he accumulated 193 runs, with a best of 81 and three fifties, but still no century. His calendar-year Test numbers were considerably better than in 2023 and 2024, but the hundred remained elusive. His best score in 2025 was 81. Before the England tour, Babar also scored 68 and 47 in the two-Test series against Bangladesh. The 68 was another useful contribution, but once again he failed to turn a start into the hundred that has been missing from his Test record for nearly four years.
For a batter who once seemed to make Test hundreds almost on demand, Babar Azam’s wait for another three-figure score has become remarkably long. He was dismissed LBW by Chris Woakes on a pitch where Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique both scored centuries. The pattern continued through the rest of the year.
Babar Azam Ends Century Drought in South Africa
Babar Azam, the captain of the Pakistan cricket team, has ended a long wait for a Test century, achieving this milestone during the recent series in South Africa. After playing 17 Tests and 36 innings without reaching the 100-run mark, Babar finally broke his drought by scoring 50 in the first Test at Centurion. This was his first Test fifty since his impressive 161 against New Zealand.
His performance improved further in the second Test at Cape Town, where he surpassed the half-century mark, marking a significant turnaround in his form. Prior to this, Babar’s run of innings without a Test fifty had extended to an alarming 30, despite varying circumstances including home series, overseas tours, and changes in team leadership.