Pakistan's star batter Babar Azam has completed his 4000th run in Test cricket. The milestone was reached on the first day of the Boxing Day Test against South Africa when Babar reached the mark during his innings in the opening match of the two-match series at the Centurion.

Pakistani batsman Babar Azam made history in Centurion by becoming only the third player to score over 4,000 runs in all three formats of the game. On the opening day of the first Test between Pakistan and South Africa, Babar returned to the Test team after being dropped from the squad during the England series. His return was bittersweet. 

Babar has scored 4,001 runs in 56 Tests, 5,957 runs in 123 ODIs and 4,223 runs in 128 T20Is in his illustrious career so far.

Babar was dropped from Pakistan's red-ball line-up after the first Test against England. This came after he went through a prolonged dry spell in the format. He made his comeback on Thursday but his innings lasted just 11 deliveries. Babar got a gift from Corbin Bosch on the first ball he faced when he smashed away a juicy full toss off his pads through square leg.

Although his short innings fell short of expectations, it was a significant milestone. Babar became the third cricketer to surpass the 4,000-run mark in all three formats of international cricket, a feat previously achieved by Indian heavyweights Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

Babar's Test tally now stands at 4,001 runs from 56 matches, at an average of 43.49, with nine centuries and 26 fifties. In ODIs, the 30-year-old has scored 5,957 runs in 123 matches, at an average of 56.73, with 19 centuries and 34 fifties. In T20Is, he has scored 4,223 runs in 128 matches at an average of 39.84, including three centuries and 36 fifties.