Babar Azam, a top batter from Pakistan, is close to making history. He has a chance to become the Pakistani batter with the most centuries in One Day International (ODI) matches. He is aiming to break a 22-year-old record held by former opener Saeed Anwar. Pakistan is going to play the West Indies in a series of three ODI games, starting Friday in Trinidad.
Babar has scored 19 ODI centuries so far. Anwar ended his career with 20 centuries, which is the most for any Pakistani batter. If Babar scores just one century in these three matches, he will tie Anwar’s long-standing record.
Most ODI centuries by Pakistan batters:
| Player Name | Centuries | Matches Played |
|---|---|---|
| Saeed Anwar | 20 | 247 |
| Babar Azam | 19* | 131 |
| Mohammad Yousuf | 15 | 281 |
| Fakhar Zaman | 11 | 82 |
| Mohammad Hafeez | 11 | 218 |
Besides possibly beating Saeed Anwar’s record, Babar is also on the verge of becoming the second-fastest batter to score 20 centuries in ODI history. He has 19 centuries in 128 innings. The current record is held by Virat Kohli, who scored 20 centuries in 133 innings. If Babar scores one more century in his next four innings, he will pass Kohli and become the second-fastest to reach this milestone. Only Hashim Amla of South Africa is ahead of him, having reached 20 centuries in just 108 innings.
Fastest players to 20 ODI centuries:
| Player | Innings |
|---|---|
| Hashim Amla | 108 |
| Virat Kohli | 133 |
| AB de Villiers | 175 |
| Rohit Sharma | 183 |
In other news, Wasim Akram, a legendary Pakistani fast bowler, has suggested that Babar Azam should come back to the T20 International (T20I) team before the Asia Cup in 2025. Babar has been out of the T20I team for a while. There have been reports that he might return, especially after Fakhar Zaman was unable to play in the third T20I game against the West Indies because of an injury.
Some reports say that Babar Azam might be considered for the T20I squad for the Asia Cup in 2025. This would depend on how well he plays in the ODI series against the West Indies.
Babar Azam is back in action after a short break and the question is, will Pakistan push Babar to open the innings now that Fakhar Zaman is out injured?
There were talks that Mike Hesson suggested Babar, Pakistan’s former captain and a main player in their T20I team, should learn how to be a wicketkeeper. This was supposed to make him a stronger option for the top batting spot. But Hesson later denied it. So for now we will see how he performs as is and see if the team will ask him to open up given Zaman’s injury.
Babar’s return brings excitement and strategic questions. He’s a top ranked batter and his presence is a big plus for the team. But Zaman’s injury creates a problem. Zaman’s absence leaves a hole at the opening position and the question is will Babar fill that role.
Read Also:- Wasim Akram Calls for Babar Azam Return to Pakistan T20I Squad
Putting Babar at the top has its pros and cons. On one hand it puts your best batter in a position to face the most balls and set the tone for the innings. On the other hand it changes the batting lineup and puts pressure on other players to perform in the middle order. This can disrupt the overall team balance.
The rumor about Mike Hesson advising Babar to take up wicket-keeping adds an interesting angle. If true it shows a willingness to be versatile and adapt to the team’s needs. It could also show Babar’s commitment to find a place in the team but it was dismissed.
Ultimately the decision is with the Pakistan team. They will have to consider all factors, Babar’s strengths, team balance and options available. The choices they make in the coming games will be crucial as they prepare for all upcoming tournaments. All eyes are on Babar as he returns to the team and on whether the team management will try something new.
