Pakistan cricket captain Babar Azam will attempt to be the 11th player in history to score 2,000 T20I runs when his players take on Zimbabwe in a three-match series beginning Wednesday at the Harare Sports Club. Azam, who was declared the International Cricket Council's (ICC) One-day International (ODI) Player of the Week last week, wants just 60 more runs to smash India skipper Virat Kohli's records of quickest to 2,000 T20I runs.

The Indian, who is also the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain in the Indian Premier League (IPL), reached the milestone in 56 innings. Azam, who has scored 1940 runs at a pace of 48.50 in 49 innings, will attempt the feat in the first T20I on Wednesday.

On April 14, the right-handed batsman hit his first T20I century in Pakistan's nine-wicket win over South Africa in the third T20I at Centurion. He too was named 'Player of the Season after scoring 210 runs at 52.50 in the four-match series.

Pakistan has won four T20I series under Babar's captaincy, defeating Bangladesh 2-0, Zimbabwe 3-0, and South Africa 2-1 at home and 3-1 away, and drawing one against England (1-1). If Pakistan wins all three matches against Zimbabwe, they will add one point and close the gap with third-ranked Australia to four points. If Pakistan loses the series 3-0, they will be dropped to fifth place, tied with New Zealand on 255 points.

Pakistan enters the series eventually winning all five bilateral T20I series against Zimbabwe and 14 T20Is altogether. The Asian team last toured Zimbabwe in July 2018, when they competed in a tri-nation tournament with Pakistan, Zimbabwe, and Australia. Pakistan won the tournament by a six-wicket victory over Australia on July 8 at the Harare Sports Club.