Babar Azam falls short to break record of most centuries in ODIs

Lahore: Babar Azam, the acclaimed captain and star batsman of the Pakistan cricket team, recently distinguished as the ICC Player of the Month, who stood on the brink of yet another illustrious milestone in the realm of One-Day Internationals (ODIs) could not make it. 

He could not stay longer on the crease in the must-win match against Sri Lanka. 

With an impressive tally of 19 centuries achieved in just 104 innings out of 107 matches, this right-handed maestro was tantalizingly close to equaling the record for the most centuries in the 50-over format for Pakistan.

The current record-holder is none other than the former Pakistan batsman, Saeed Anwar, who etched his name in the annals of cricketing history with a remarkable 20 centuries garnered from 244 innings out of 247 matches. Anwar boasted an admirable strike rate of 80.67 during his illustrious career.

In stark contrast, Babar Azam boasts a striking strike rate of 89.16, highlighting his prowess as a dynamic batsman. Should he manage to add just one more century to his name today in the ongoing contest against Sri Lanka in Colombo, he will ascend to the position of the fastest Pakistani batsman to achieve this remarkable feat.

Surveying the landscape of his contemporaries, it's worth noting that Mohammad Yousuf and Mohammad Hafeez have made their mark in the ODI arena with 15 and 11 centuries, respectively, over the course of their careers.

Delving into the current roster of Pakistani cricketers, we find that only Fakhar Zaman, with 10 centuries, and Imam ul Haq, with 9 centuries, secure their places among the top 10 for the most ODI centuries scored for Pakistan.

As the Super 4 phase nears its culmination, the final match unfolds for both Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The victor of this crucial encounter will earn the coveted spot in the final showdown against India, scheduled to take place on September 17. The stakes are high, and the cricketing world watches in anticipation of this gripping battle.