Pakistani batsman Shoaib Malik, on Saturday, became the first Asian batsman to reach the 10,000-run milestone in T20 cricket during the ongoing National T20 Cup in the country. He became the third cricketer after Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard to archive this feat.

Representing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Malik slammed 74 off 44 balls against Balochistan. Reacting to his achievement, Malik said: “I would like to congratulate the people of Pakistan as I am the first Asian cricketer to have reached this milestone of making 10,000 runs in #T20 cricket & I hope I will carry on in the way I have been playing.

I’d like to dedicate this milestone to my parents they’ve always prayed for me. I wish my father was alive today as he would’ve been very happy, but that’s how life is. Whenever I go to the ground I always call my mother before a match & get her prayers. “

He also received a heartfelt wish from wife Sania Mirza who posted, “Longevity, patience ,hard work ,sacrifice and belief @realshoaibmalik  so proud” celebrating her husband’s achievement.

Malik now has 10,027 runs in 395 T20 matches at an average of 37.41 and a strike rate of 125.71.