Hafeez, Umar Akmal join 1000-run club

Mohammad Hafeez became the 47th Pakistani and 462nd batsman overall to score 1000 or more runs in Test cricket. The right-hand opening batsman from Sargodha achieved his feat during his 119-run knock in Pakistan’s first innings on the third day of the only Test against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, on Saturday (September 3). It was Mohammsd Hafeez 34th innings of his 18 Test match. Hafeez, who made his Test debut against Bangladesh at Karachi on August 20, 2003, took eight years and 15 days to reach this landmark.
Hafeez also became the sixth Pakistan batsman on eight occasion to score a hundred against Zimbabwe in Tests. Hafeez’s 119 was his highest score in Test cricket. His previous highest in the longer version of the game was 104 against West Indies at Karachi in 2006-07. Later in the innings, Umar Akmal completed his 1000 runs in Test cricket by reaching 12 during his knock. The right hand batsman from Lahore batted 30 innings of 16 Test matches to join 47 other Pakistani batsman. Umar Akmal who made his Test debut against New Zealand at Dunedin on November 24, 2009, took one years and 284 days to reach this landmark.
He is the third fastest Pakistan batsman in terms of time to score 1000 runs in Tests after Yasir Hameed (one year and 135 days) and Qasim Umar (one year and 138 days). The 188-run stand between Hafeez and Azhar Ali was the best stand for the second wicket and second best overall for Pakistan against Zimbabwe. The 313-run stand for the eighth wicket between Saqlain Mushtaq and Wasim Akram at Sheikhupura in 1997-97 is the highest ever stand for Pakistan against Zimbabwe in Tests.