Pakistani skipper, Babar Azam, has once again smashed records including PM Imran Khan’s following his 158 runs knock in the third ODI on Tuesday in Birmingham against England.
With his 158-run innings, he became the first Pakistani skipper to score a hundred in England since Prime Minister Imran Khan achieved the milestone of hitting a century in Leeds in 1983.
Fastest to 14 ODI centuries, by number of innings:
81 – Babar Azam
82 – Meg Lanning
84 – Hashim Amla
98 – David Warner
103 – Virat Kohli pic.twitter.com/4cRlzbOoxZ— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) July 13, 2021
No player has reached 14 ODI hundreds quicker than Babar Azam 🔥
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) July 14, 2021
The 26-year-old skipper has become the first Pakistani skipper in an ODI to score a historic inning of 158 runs. Earlier, Shoaib Malik had this record of scoring 125 runs in India in 2008.
The young and energetic batsman has become the fastest player to score 14 centuries in men’s ODIs in 81 innings. With his remarkable feat, he has broken the record of Indian skipper Virat Kohli, South Africa’s Hashim Amla, and Australia’s David Warner.
Updated ICC ODI Batting Rankings. Babar Azam has reached a career-best 873 rating points #Cricket pic.twitter.com/XgTJkNtavp
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) July 14, 2021
While England has whitewashed Pakistan in the ODI series, Babar Azam has been heaping praise from cricketers and sports analysts from all over the world. Following his remarkable performances, Indian players also could not resist praising him.
Babar Azam scored the highest individual score by any Pakistani player against England. Last time, it was Imam-ul-Haq who had scored 151 runs against England in 2019. This was also the fourth-highest score by any player against England on English soil.
Read more: Babar Azam to reportedly marry next year: sources
The Pakistani skipper also scored the highest score by any captain against England and is the only captain to score 150 runs against England. He retained his top position in the latest ICC ODI rankings with 873 points.
“This guy @babarazam258 is some player. Just imagining him playing alongside the likes INZY Bhai,YUSUF, YUNUS,” said Irfan Pathan.
This guy @babarazam258 is some player. Just imagining him playing alongside the likes INZY bhai,YUSUF, YUNUS.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) July 13, 2021
Magnificent scenes from Edgbeston as crowd give standing ovation to BABAR AZAM. #BabarAzam #PAKvENG pic.twitter.com/GieaJOhae7
— MH (@MandyHox) July 13, 2021
Highest individual score by an Asian batsmen against England in England in ODIs:
🇵🇰 Babar Azam – 158
🇱🇰 Sanath Jayasuriya – 152
🇵🇰 Imam ul Haq – 151
🇱🇰 Mahela Jayawardene – 144
🇵🇰 Fakhar Zaman – 138The Magnificent 👑 @babarazam258 dealing in world records.#Cricket#ENGvPAK
— 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠 👑 (@imtheguy007) July 13, 2021
“World-class batters do not remain out of form for many matches. That is why Babar Azam is the best batsman in the world,” Dinesh Karthik remarked after Babar Azam’s century during the third ODI against England.
Read more: Australian batsman believes Babar Azam is ‘world-class’ player
Babar scored a duck in the first ODI and 19 runs in the second ODI and was under immense pressure from fans and followers to put a powerful performance. The player even received a standing ovation from the crowd in Birmingham yesterday.