Unique honour for Asad Shafiq

CAPE TOWN: Young batsman Asad Shafiq achieved a unique honour while batting on the opening day of the second Test against South Africa here at Newlands on Thursday.

When he reached 49, he became the 50th Pakistan batsman to make 1000 or more runs in Test cricket.

Asad, who came to the crease at the moment when Pakistan were reeling at 33 for four, batted resolutely along with veteran batsman Younis Khan and both rescued their team with an unbeaten century stand for the fifth wicket.

Both struck half-centuries and added 100 runs to take Pakistan to 133-4 at tea.

This was eight Test fifty for Asad whereas Younis completed his 27th fifty in his 81st Test.

Asad is playing his 18th Test and he reached his 1000-run mark in his 27th Test innings.

He made his Test debut against South Africa at Abu Dhabi in November 2010 and so far made two hundreds--- 104 vs Bangladesh at Chittagong in December 2011 and 100 not out vs Sri Lanka at Pallekele in July 2012.

The 27-year-old batsman also appeared in 35 One-day Internationals and ten Twenty20 Internationals besides playing 62 first-class matches.

Among the fifty Pakistan players with 1000 or more runs in Test cricket, only two players reached the milestone of 8000 runs. They were Javed Miandad (8832) and Inzamam-ul Haq (8830).