Shoaib Malik scripts history, equals Chris Gayle's mammoth T20 record after returning to competitive cricket

Pakistan's star all-rounder Shoaib Malik etched his name in cricket history by becoming just the second player to amass 13,000 runs in T20 cricket. Malik achieved this mega feat during Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match between Fortune Barishal and Rangpur Riders in Dhaka.

Malik played a sedate knock of 17 runs from 18 balls without being dismissed, contributing to Fortune Barishal's successful chase of a 135-run target at the Shere Bangla National Stadium. His knock included two boundaries, and he formed a crucial 25-run partnership with Mahmudullah, guiding the team to a win on Saturday.

Additionally, Malik made a valuable contribution with the ball, taking a wicket in the only over he bowled. He picked the prized wicket of Rangpur Riders captain Nurul Hasan, who returned to pavilion after scoring 23 runs.

Batters with most T20 runs

Chris Gayle - 14,562 runs in 463 matches 
Shoaib Malik - 12,993 runs in 525 matches
Kieron Pollard - 12,454 runs in 641 matches
Virat Kohli - 11,994 runs in 376 matches
 

Before his debut in the Bangladesh Premier League, Shoaib Malik was just seven runs shy of this massive milestone. His last appearance was for Sialkot in Pakistan's National T20 Cup in December 2023. After a brief hiatus, Malik returned to action and accomplished this major career milestone.

Despite being the top T20 run-scorer in Asia, Malik has not yet scored a century in the format. At 41, the all-rounder has retired from Test and ODI cricket but continues to be active in T20s, remaining open to selection.

In T20 Internationals, Malik has amassed 2435 runs in 124 matches at an average of 30 for Pakistan. A member of the 2009 T20 World Cup-winning team, he hasn't played for Pakistan since November 20, 2021.

Interestingly, on January 20's morning, Malik surprised his fans by announcing his marriage to actor Sana Javed, amid ongoing speculation about his separation from Sania Mirza.

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