Centuries from captain Babar Azam and number 6 batsman Iftikhar Ahmed headlined Pakistan’s colossal 238 runs victory over Nepal as the hosts kick-started their Asia Cup 2023 campaign in style in Multan. This would have sent a strong message across Team India as the arch-rivals will meet on Saturday in Kandy.
Pakistan’s run-machine, Babar Azam, who is also the number 1 ranked men’s ICC ODI batsman in the world, notched up his 19th ODI century on Wednesday against Nepal at the Multan Cricket Stadium. He is now only 1 century behind Saeed Anwar’s record of ODI hundreds, which is the most for a Pakistani batsman, while Anwar had played 142 innings more than Babar Azam!
Babar Azam creates another world record in ODIs; breaks record of Amla, Virat Kohli, ABD
Babar Azam achieved his 19th ODI century in 102 ODI innings, which is now a world-record as he becomes the fastest batsman to 19 ODI centuries, in terms of innings. He broke the previous record of legendary South African opener Hashim Amla’s record of 104 innings that he took to reach 19 ODI centuries, while India’s Virat Kohli is now third on the list, having taken 124 knocks to crack 19 ODI tons.
Australia’s David Warner needed 139 innings while South Africa’s AB de Villiers took 171 ODI innings to complete 19 ODI centuries.
Fastest to 19 ODI hundreds:
Babar Azam – 102 innings
Hashim Amla – 104
Virat Kohli – 124
David Warner – 139
AB de Villiers – 171
Against Nepal, Babar Azam scored 151 runs in 131 balls, with the help of 14 fours and 4 sixes. After Pakistan were in a bit of trouble at 124/4, he put on a record 5th-wicket stand with Iftikhar Ahmed, who scored 109* off 71 balls, the duo adding 214 runs in only 131 balls to take the side to 342.
Nepal, in reply, didn’t stand a chance at all. Shaheen Afridi took 2 wickets in the first over and Naseem Shah struck from the other end. Haris Rauf took 2 wickets for himself and Nawaz prised out one wicket before Shadab Khan finished matters with 4 wickets to his name.
Babar Azam and Pakistan’s next challenge, and the biggest one, now is against India on September 2 in Kandy.
