As anticipation builds for the upcoming Asia Cup and the 13th ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, Pakistani captain Babar Azam is poised to create history with a series of record-breaking performances in the remainder of the year.
During Pakistan’s dominant start in the Asia Cup, Babar Azam showcased his cricketing prowess by achieving a stunning century against Nepal on August 30.
This remarkable performance solidified his reputation as a cricket legend, with his elegant strokes leading to an impressive 151 runs from just 131 deliveries.
Babar’s exceptional feat not only outshone South African icon Hashim Amla but also established him as the fastest player ever to reach 19 ODI centuries, achieving this milestone in just 102 innings. This achievement comes after his magnificent century during the 2019 World Cup against New Zealand.
In a dazzling display of skill, Babar Azam’s bat sent the ball flying across the field, resulting in 14 boundaries and four towering sixes.
His score of 151 stands as the second-highest in the history of the Asia Cup, trailing only behind Virat Kohli’s monumental 183 against Pakistan in 2012.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed that Babar Azam’s achievement marked the first instance of a captain scoring 150 or more runs at an Asia Cup event, surpassing Kohli’s earlier record of 136 against Bangladesh in 2014.
This remarkable inning was only the second time Babar had crossed the 150-run mark in an ODI, the pinnacle being his spectacular 158 against England in 2021.
This remarkable accomplishment further solidified Babar’s top-ranking position on the MRF Tyres ODI Batting Rankings. With an extraordinary ODI batting average of 59.47, he secures the fourth spot in the all-time rankings of men’s ODI cricket, among players with at least 2000 ODI runs.
With his 31st international century, Babar Azam now stands alongside Pakistani cricket legends Javed Miandad and Saeed Anwar. As he continues on his awe-inspiring journey, he’s inching closer to the records held by Younis Khan (41), Mohammad Yousuf (39), and Inzamam-ul-Haq (35).
Babar Azam is just one century away from matching Saeed Anwar’s record of 20 ODI centuries, the highest achieved by any player from Pakistan.
As Pakistan gears up for a highly-anticipated clash against arch-rivals India in the Asia Cup on September 2, the excitement continues to build for their first match in the World Cup against the Netherlands on October 06.
All eyes are on Babar Azam as he continues his trailblazing journey, set to rewrite records and make an enduring impact on the world of cricket.
READ MORE: Pakistan Dominates Asia Cup Opener with 238-Run Victory Over Nepal
