Babar Azam Broke Multiple Records in the 1st Asia Cup 2023 Match against Nepal
The captain of the Pakistan cricket team, Babar Azam, has shown the world why he is one of the best batsmen in recent times. He slammed a stunning knock of 151 runs against Nepal in the opening match of the Asia Cup 2023. Alongside his magnificent century, Babar Azam also broke a series of records, both for himself and for Pakistan.
While coming to bat in the 7th over after Pakistan lost both their openers, Azam and Mohammad Rizwan steadily built the innings. After the dismissal of Later, Iftikhar Ahmed accompanied his captain, and the duo stitched a 214-run stand to help the hosts put up a massive total of 342 runs on the board.
It was just a matter of time before Babar Azam changed gears in the game. Following his dropped catch on 55, Azam took to the Nepali bowlers for a toss and smashed a century. However, he slowed down once he reached his 90s and then patiently waited for the three-digit score.
He equaled Brian Lara, David Warner, and Mahela Jayawardene with 19 ODI centuries. But what is even more interesting is the number of innings that he took to reach the landmark. He took just 102 innings, while Virat Kohli managed to reach his 19th ODI ton in 124 innings.
Babar Azam’s 151-run knock might not be his highest ODI score, but it surely is the highest score managed by a captain in the Asia Cup. Babar Azam reached 151 runs in just 131 balls in a fiery inning. He surpassed Virat Kohli’s record of 136 runs. His 151-run knock is also the second-highest score registered by a Pakistani captain in ODIs.