Former T20I captain Salman Ali Agha returned to action for Pakistan on Sunday, October 18. In the opening game of the present ODI tri-series in Pakistan, he produced a stunning century for the hosts, helping them win by 37 runs.
At Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Agha batted at number five for Pakistan against Sri Lanka and scored 107 runs off 90 balls. The Men in Green scored 305 runs in 49.5 overs thanks to his 10 fours and one six. Agha scored his fourth century in 54 ODIs for Pakistan in the opening game of the tri-series.
Pakistan Batter With Most ODI Tons At No. 5 or Lower
- Salman Ali Agha: 4 Centuries
- Mohammad Yousuf: 3 Centuries
- Abdul Razzaq: 2 Centuries
- Shahid Afridi: 2 Centuries
- Umar Akmal: 2 Centuries
All four of his ODI hundreds have come when batting at No. 5 or lower. Agha broke the record for the most ODI hundreds for Pakistan as a No. 5 or lower batsman with his century against Sri Lanka on Sunday. Once tied with Mohammad Yousuf, he now has one more century than the former right-handed batter.
From 1998 to 2009, Yousuf, one of Pakistan’s greatest hitters ever, played 114 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) as a No. 5 or lower batsman and scored three hundreds. David Miller of South Africa and Jos Buttler of England share the record for most ODI hundreds scored as a No. 5 or lower batsman. Buttler and Miller each have eight centuries to their names.
Four players-AB de Villiers, Andrew Symonds, Eoin Morgan, and Sikandar Raza-have six ODI hundreds apiece as No. 5 or lower hitters, while MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh of India concluded their ODI careers with seven centuries apiece.
Additionally, as a No. 5 batsman, Salman Ali Agha is the first Pakistani to score three ODI hundreds. Only Mohammad Yousuf had previously scored several ODI hundreds for Pakistan while batting at No. 5. While Agha has three hundreds in 33 ODIs as a No. 5 batter, Yousuf batted at No. 5 for Pakistan in 84 ODIs and got two hundreds.
of India holds the world record for most ODI hundreds scored by a No. 5 batsman. In 99 One-Day Internationals, Yuvraj hit seven tons while batting at No. 5 for India. Agha scored 97 runs from 93 balls for fifth wicket in the first ODI against Sri Lanka, while Hasan Nawaz scored 37 from 49 balls and 64 from 46 balls for sixth wicket with Arafat Minhas (18 from 15 balls).