He has smashed 19 centuries in the 50-over format, whereas Anwar has scored 20, and that was the most as a Pakistani batter. If Babar scores another hundred, then he will equal Anwar’s record.
Anwar had hit 20 centuries after playing in 244 innings, whereas Babar had already smashed 19 centuries after batting in 128 innings. He can also become the fastest batter to have achieved this milestone.
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Most ODI hundreds by Pakistan batters
Saeed Anwar: 20 centuries
Babar Azam: 19 centuries
Mohammad Yousuf: 15 centuries
Fakhar Zaman: 11 centuries
Mohammad Hafeez: 11 centuries
Apart from equaling Anwar’s record, Babar is on the verge of becoming the second fastest cricketer in the history of this format to have smashed 20 centuries.
If he can bring up his 20th century during the next four innings, he can break the record of the star Indian batter Virat Kohli, who had achieved this feat after playing in 133 innings.
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South Africa’s Hashim Amla currently has the record of scoring the fastest 20 centuries in the 50-over format, and he achieved it by playing in just 108 innings.
Fastest to 20 ODI hundreds
Hashim Amla (South Africa) – 108 innings
Virat Kohli (India) – 133 innings
AB de Villiers (South Africa) – 175 innings
Rohit Sharma (India)- 183 innings
Sachin Tendulkar (India)- 197 innings
The World No.2 ODI batter Babar will be making a comeback to international cricket after a short break. But since Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out owing to an injury, it would be interesting to see if the Men in Green again send Babar as an opener.
According to some reports, Mike Hesson had told Babar, the ex-captain and an important part of their T20I side, to enhance his batting skills, which might help him to become an opener, but these claims were later dismissed by Hesson.