Faisalabad, November 3: Pakistan’s batting maestro Babar Azam is on the verge of rewriting history as he prepares for the upcoming three-match ODI series against South Africa, beginning Tuesday at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad.
The former Pakistan captain, known for his elegant stroke play and unmatched consistency, is just one century away from equalling Saeed Anwar’s record for the most ODI centuries by a Pakistani batter — a milestone that has stood unchallenged for more than two decades.
Babar Eyes Saeed Anwar’s Record
Saeed Anwar, one of Pakistan’s greatest openers, scored 20 centuries in 247 ODIs during his illustrious career. In contrast, Babar has already amassed 19 centuries in just 134 matches, underlining his prolific conversion rate and dominance in modern-day cricket.
If Babar scores a century in the upcoming series, he will equal Anwar’s tally of 20 ODI tons. Two centuries will see him become Pakistan’s all-time leader for most ODI hundreds.
Most ODI Centuries for Pakistan:
Saeed Anwar – 20 centuries (247 matches)
Babar Azam – 19* centuries (134 matches)
Mohammad Yousuf – 15 centuries (281 matches)
Fakhar Zaman – 11 centuries (82 matches)
Mohammad Hafeez – 11 centuries (218 matches)
On the Verge of Breaking Virat Kohli’s Record
Babar Azam also stands at the cusp of achieving another monumental feat — becoming the second-fastest player in ODI history to reach 20 centuries.
Currently, South African legend Hashim Amla holds the record, having achieved the milestone in 108 innings, followed by Virat Kohli, who reached it in 133 innings.
With 19 centuries in 131 innings, Babar needs just one more ton in his next two innings to surpass Kohli’s record and become the second-fastest ever to the landmark.
Fastest Players to 20 ODI Centuries:
Hashim Amla – 108 innings
Virat Kohli – 133 innings
AB de Villiers – 175 innings
Rohit Sharma – 183 innings
If Babar accomplishes the feat in the upcoming series, he will strengthen his reputation as one of the most efficient and technically complete batters of the modern era.
Babar’s Return to Form in T20Is
After a brief dip in form earlier this year, Babar made a strong comeback during the recently concluded T20I series against South Africa. His match-winning 68 off 47 balls in the third T20I helped Pakistan chase down a tricky target and clinch the series 2-1 at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
It was his first T20I half-century since May 2024, when he scored 75 runs against Ireland — a performance that once again highlighted his ability to anchor and accelerate under pressure.
Eyes Set on Records and Redemption
With confidence restored and form rediscovered, all eyes will now be on Babar as Pakistan gears up for the ODI challenge in South Africa. A single century could see him match one of Pakistan’s greatest legends, while another could make him the country’s all-time leading century-maker in ODIs.
If achieved, Babar will also enter the global elite list alongside Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Hashim Amla — further solidifying his place among the best one-day batters in the world.
