Pakistan opener Mohammad Rizwan has become the first batter to score 1,000 T20I runs in a calendar year. With his third half-century in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021, Rizwan became the only batter to achieve the feat.
In 20 innings, the wicketkeeper-batter has scored over 1,033 runs at an average of 86.08. The 29-year-old has 10 half-centuries and one century. He has also hit most sixes in a calendar year breaking Ireland’s Kevin O’Brien’s tally of 36 sixes.
In the semi-final, Rizwan scored 67 runs from 52 deliveries to help his side post a big total against Australia.
Earlier on November 10, Rizwan’s participation in the match was under doubt as he woke up with mild fever. Rizwan was declared match fit on the day of the semi-final. During the innings, he was also hit by a bouncer of Mitchell Starc in the 13th over.
On the other hand, he also has most runs in the T20 format (including domestic, international and franchise cricket). He surpassed Chris Gayle's tally of 1,665 runs in the year 2015.
In the same match, skipper Babar Azam scored 39 runs from 34 deliveries and became the fourth batter to score 300 or more runs in a single edition of T20 World Cup. Azam has scored 303 runs from six innings including four half-centuries. The list is topped by Indian skipper Virat Kohli who has 319 runs from six innings in the 2014 edition of the tournament. The two other batters to score 300 or more runs are former Sri Lankan batter Tillakaratne Dilshan (317 runs) and former Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene (302 runs).
Azam-Rizwan also equalled the T20 World Cup record of most number of fifty-plus stands with the 71-run opening partnership. Rizwan is also in contention of scoring most runs in a single edition. He has scored 281 runs from six innings.
