Leading Pakistan in international cricket comes with enormous pressure, and Babar Azam's captaincy tenure was one of the most closely followed periods in the team's recent history. He took charge across formats between late 2019 and early 2021 and went on to lead Pakistan in Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
Babar's tenure produced several significant milestones. Pakistan reached major ICC tournament finals, recorded important overseas series victories and climbed to No. 1 in the ICC ODI Team Rankings. At the same time, his tactical decisions, home Test results and performances in major tournament knockouts attracted considerable debate.
This guide breaks down Babar Azam's captaincy record across Tests, ODIs and T20Is, including his win-loss figures, major achievements, tournament results and commonly discussed tactical strengths and weaknesses.
Babar Azam Captaincy Record: Overall Stats
Babar Azam captained Pakistan in 148 international matches across the three formats. He recorded 84 wins, 50 losses and 14 matches that ended in a draw, tie or no result.
Captaincy Record | Overall |
Matches Captained | 148 |
Wins | 84 |
Losses | 50 |
Tied/No Result/Draw | 14 |
Major Milestone | Pakistan reached No. 1 in ODI rankings |
His overall win percentage was approximately 56.7%. The numbers also show how heavily his captaincy workload was concentrated in white-ball cricket, particularly T20Is.
Babar Azam Test Captaincy Record
Babar Azam became Pakistan's Test captain in late 2020, replacing Azhar Ali. His red-ball tenure produced strong performances away from home but also difficult periods, particularly during Pakistan's home Test campaigns.
Test Captaincy Statistics
Test Captaincy | Record |
Matches | 20 |
Wins | 10 |
Losses | 6 |
Draws | 4 |
Win Percentage | 50.00% |
Series Won | 6 |
Series Lost | 2 |
Series Drawn | 2 |
One of the defining moments of Babar's Test captaincy came against Australia in Karachi in 2022. He scored 196 in the fourth innings, batting for more than 10 hours as Pakistan fought to save the Test. The innings became one of the standout fourth-innings performances by a captain in modern Test cricket.
Babar also led Pakistan to notable Test series victories in South Africa in 2021 and Sri Lanka in 2022 and 2023.
His home record, however, came under greater scrutiny. Pakistan lost home series against Australia 0-1 and England 0-3 in 2022, with the pitches attracting criticism for being heavily weighted toward batting conditions.
The contrast between Pakistan's overseas performances and some of its home results became an important part of the discussion surrounding Babar's red-ball leadership.
Babar Azam ODI Captaincy Record
ODI cricket was statistically Babar's strongest format as captain. He combined leadership responsibilities with outstanding personal batting numbers, averaging 60.76 while captaining Pakistan in ODIs.
ODI Captaincy Statistics
ODI Captaincy | Record |
Matches | 43 |
Wins | 26 |
Losses | 15 |
Tied/No Result | 2 |
Win Percentage | 60.46% |
Batting Average as Captain | 60.76 |
The biggest team milestone came in May 2023, when Pakistan reached the No. 1 position in the ICC ODI Team Rankings for the first time in its history.
Babar also led Pakistan to an ODI series victory in South Africa in 2021, becoming only the second Pakistani captain to win an ODI series on South African soil.
Another notable achievement came against Australia in 2022. Pakistan won the home ODI series 2-1, with Babar scoring back-to-back centuries in the second and third matches.
These results helped establish his ODI captaincy as one of the strongest statistical areas of his leadership tenure.
Babar Azam T20I Captaincy Record
Babar's longest captaincy tenure came in T20Is. He led Pakistan in 85 matches, winning 48 and losing 29, with eight ending without a result.
T20I Captaincy Statistics
T20I Captaincy | Record |
Matches | 85 |
Wins | 48 |
Losses | 29 |
No Results | 8 |
Win Percentage | 56.47% |
Key Achievement | Most T20I wins as Pakistan captain |
His 48 T20I victories make him Pakistan's most successful captain in the format in terms of match wins.
Babar's T20I leadership also produced two memorable World Cup campaigns.
2021 T20 World Cup
Pakistan recorded a historic 10-wicket victory over India in Dubai at the 2021 T20 World Cup. Babar played a central role in the chase, helping Pakistan secure a landmark World Cup win over its biggest rival.
Pakistan went on to reach the semi-finals of the tournament after an unbeaten run through the group stage.
2022 T20 World Cup
A year later, Babar led Pakistan to the 2022 T20 World Cup final in Australia. Pakistan ultimately lost the final to England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Although Babar did not win an ICC trophy as captain, reaching the semi-finals in 2021 and the final in 2022 represented two of the most significant tournament results of his T20I tenure.
Babar Azam Captaincy Record by Format
The following table brings his captaincy figures together in one place:
Metric | Tests | ODIs | T20Is |
Matches Captained | 20 | 43 | 85 |
Wins | 10 | 26 | 48 |
Losses | 6 | 15 | 29 |
Draws/Ties/NR | 4 | 2 | 8 |
Win Percentage | 50.00% | 60.46% | 56.47% |
Batting Average as Captain | 50.79 | 60.76 | 51.74 |
Best Tournament Result | WTC Final (Missed) | World Cup 2023 (5th) | World Cup Finalist (2022) |
The figures highlight an important feature of Babar's captaincy: his personal batting remained productive while he carried the additional responsibility of leading Pakistan. Check here the Best Innings of Babar Azam
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Babar Azam's overall win percentage as Pakistan captain?
Babar Azam's overall win percentage was approximately 56.7%, based on 84 wins from 148 matches across Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
How many T20I matches did Babar Azam win as captain?
Babar won 48 T20I matches as Pakistan captain, giving him the highest number of T20I wins among Pakistan captains.
Did Babar Azam win an ICC trophy as captain?
No. Babar did not win an ICC trophy as captain. He led Pakistan to the 2021 T20 World Cup semi-finals and the 2022 T20 World Cup final. Pakistan also reached the 2022 Asia Cup final during his captaincy.
What was Babar Azam's batting average as captain?
Babar averaged 50.79 in Tests, 60.76 in ODIs and 51.74 in T20Is while serving as captain.
Did Pakistan reach No. 1 in the ICC rankings under Babar Azam?
Yes. Pakistan reached No. 1 in the ICC ODI Team Rankings in May 2023 under Babar Azam's leadership.
Babar Azam's Captaincy Legacy
Babar Azam's captaincy combined strong individual batting performances with important team milestones. His tenure included 84 international victories, Pakistan's rise to No. 1 in the ODI rankings, an ODI series win in South Africa and appearances in the latter stages of multiple major tournaments.
His record was more complicated in Test cricket, particularly during difficult home campaigns, while his tactical decisions in white-ball cricket remained a frequent subject of debate.
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