Pakistan skipper and star batter Babar Azam has once again proven why he's currently the world's top-ranked batter in One-Day Internationals. Currently spearheading the Men in Green in the Asia Cup 2023, Babar made headlines with his scintillating 151-run performance against Nepal in the tournament opener last week. Following that, he was back in action on September 6 against Bangladesh in the first match of the Super Fours, held at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Although Babar couldn't notch up a high score during the Bangladesh match, his 22-ball, 17-run stint was enough to shatter a longstanding world record. With this, he became the fastest captain in the history of ODI cricket to reach 2000 runs, achieving this feat in just 31 innings. The record was previously held by Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli, who accomplished the same milestone in 36 innings after taking over the captaincy from MS Dhoni in January 2017.
The list of captains achieving this landmark also includes former South African skipper AB De Villiers and Australia's 2015 ODI World Cup-winning captain Michael Clarke, who reached the milestone in 41 and 47 innings, respectively.
Babar's connection with Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium is deep-rooted; he made his ODI debut here against Zimbabwe on May 31, 2015. With 19 centuries in 106 ODI innings to his name, Babar is inching closer to becoming Pakistan's all-time leading centurion in ODIs. He needs just one more century to match the legendary Saeed Anwar's record of 20 ODI hundreds.
When questioned about the prospect of equalling Saeed Anwar's record prior to the Bangladesh match, Babar expressed his eagerness to hit a century and level the score with the iconic batter.
Babar Azam's meteoric rise and his unyielding commitment to the sport signify a golden era for Pakistani cricket. His recent record-breaking performance, breaking Virat Kohli's milestone, not only elevates his own stature but also adds a remarkable chapter to the history of cricket.
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