Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam is on the cusp of making history as he steps onto the field for the 2nd ODI of the three-match series against South Africa today in Cape Town.
Babar Azam is on the brink of equaling Saeed Anwar’s record for the most ODI centuries by a Pakistani batter. Currently, with 19 centuries to his name, Babar needs just one more to match Anwar’s tally of 20 centuries.
| Rank | Player | Centuries | Innings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saeed Anwar | 20 | 244 |
| 2 | Babar Azam | 19 | 118 |
| 3 | Mohammad Yousuf | 15 | 267 |
| 4 | Fakhar Zaman | 11 | 74 |
| 5 | Mohammad Hafeez | 11 | 218 |
Although his form has been iffy, the No. 1 ranked ODI batter remains a threat in any condition.
If Babar Azam reaches his 20th century today, he will become the 2nd-fastest batter in ODI history to achieve this milestone, behind only South Africa’s Hashim Amla.
| Player | Country | Innings |
|---|---|---|
| Hashim Amla | South Africa | 108 |
| Virat Kohli | India | 133 |
| David Warner | Australia | 142 |
| Quinton de Kock | South Africa | 150 |
| AB de Villiers | South Africa | 175 |
The 30-year-old is also just 168 runs away from surpassing the South African legend’s record for the fastest to 6,000 ODI runs. Amla achieved this feat in 123 innings, while Babar has accumulated 5,832 runs in just 118 innings. With five innings remaining to reach this milestone, he is well-positioned to set a new benchmark.
| Player | Country | Innings |
|---|---|---|
| Hashim Amla | South Africa | 123 |
| Virat Kohli | India | 136 |
| Kane Williamson | New Zealand | 139 |
| David Warner | Australia | 139 |
| Shikhar Dhawan | India | 140 |
Notably, Babar already holds the record for being the fastest to 5,000 ODI runs, accomplishing it in just 97 innings.
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