Babar Azam finally ended his long wait for an international hundred as he scored a brilliant unbeaten 102 against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi during the second ODI. This Babar Azam Century not only helped Pakistan clinch the three match series with one game to go but also cemented his name among the all time greats of Pakistan cricket. This was his first century in 807 days after 83 innings without reaching the three figure mark.
The Rawalpindi crowd witnessed classic Babar Azam timing and shot selection as he anchored Pakistan’s run chase with confidence. His latest knock marks his 20th ODI century, a major milestone in the national record books. With this achievement, Babar Azam has now tied legendary opener Saeed Anwar for the most ODI hundreds by a Pakistani batter. What makes the record even more special is the speed at which he reached it. He accomplished the feat in only 108 innings, much quicker than Saeed Anwar’s 244 innings.
Babar Azam Century in Numbers
Babar’s statistics shine brightly when placed alongside Pakistan’s finest batters. He now stands at 20 centuries in 139 matches with an impressive average of 53.89. Saeed Anwar also sits at 20 centuries but in 247 matches. Behind them are Mohammad Yousuf with 15 hundreds, followed by Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Hafeez with 11 each. With another match left in the series tomorrow, Babar Azam has a golden chance to claim the record outright and set a new benchmark that may stand for generations.
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This century comes at a crucial time for the former captain. In recent months, critics questioned his form and place in the lineup, but his return to top level performance has silenced the noise around him. For Pakistan fans, his latest innings feels more like the beginning of a new era rather than the end of a drought. At 31 years old, Babar Azam is still at the peak of his powers and capable of breaking many more records.
Pakistan cricket has always celebrated its heroes, and once again, Babar Azam has written his name in history. With momentum behind him and confidence restored, supporters will be eagerly waiting to see whether he can take the record for most ODI hundreds in the very next match.
