MULTAN – Pakistan skipper Babar Azam smashed first century of this year’s Asia Cup tournament in opening match against Nepal at the Multan Cricket Stadium.
This is the 19th ODI hundred by the World No. 1 ODI batter as he helped the team to make speedy recovery after early losses in the ongoing match. He achieved the milestone in 109 balls.
“Babar Azam now has as many international hundreds as Pakistan legends Javed Miandad and Saeed Anwar,” said International Cricket Council (ICC) in a social media post on X.
A superb ton from the skipper ????
Babar Azam now has as many international hundreds as Pakistan legends Javed Miandad and Saeed Anwar ????#PAKvNEP | ????: https://t.co/5ewtl5FKT7 pic.twitter.com/t74KKxJkye
— ICC (@ICC) August 30, 2023
He has also become the fastest player to smash 19 centuries in 50-over format of cricket.
He achieved the milestone in 102 innings as previously it was held by Hashim Amla, who smashed 19 centuries in 104 innings.
Exactly 19 years ago, Babar Azam had smashed an unbeaten century to power Pakistan U-23 to a comfortable nine-wicket win over Nepal in the ACC Emerging Teams Cup.
Asia Cup 2023 opener: PAKvNEP
In the Asia Cup opener, Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat first against Nepal.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/16-Aug-2023/babar-azam-total-centuries
