News Desk
Babar Amassed 2300 Runs in last 35 ODIs with 9 Tons & 15 Fifties
London, 27 August: The Pakistan cricket team has earned a global reputation and topped the ICC rankings across all formats of the game under Babar Azam’s leadership. Pakistan won ODI series against Australia (2-1), New Zealand (4-1), West Indies (3-0), Ireland (3-0) and Afghanistan (3-0).
In 2023, Pakistan beat New Zealand (4-1) in a 5-match ODI series in which Pakistan chased big totals with ease. Against a strong Australian side, in March-April 2022, Pakistan chased a target of 349 runs comfortably and won the match by six wickets to take the 3-match ODI series (2-1).
At Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on 31 March 2022, Australia posted a mammoth total of 348/8 in 50 overs. For Australia, Ben McDermott scored a century (104) while Travis Head made a significant contribution of 89 runs, Marnus Labuschage scored 59 and Stoinis 49.
In pursuit of a tough target (349), skipper Babar Azam (114) and Imam-ul-Haq made centuries while Fakhar Zaman contributed 67 runs. Pakistan won the game by six wickets with one over to spare.
Babar Azam was adjudged player of the match. Babar scores big runs in big matches against quality sides.
Pakistan won the third ODI of the series by nine wickets to wrap the series 2-1 in their favour. Babar Azam was again the star performer with a century (105). He was declared player of the match and player of the series as he scored two centuries and a fifty in the three-match ODI series.
Pakistan’s remarkable run in the ODIs during the last four years has been made possible by skipper Babar Azam’s breathtaking form, as in his last 35 ODIs since June 2019, the dashing batter amassed 2300 runs, laced with nine centuries and 15 fifties, at a healthy batting average of 72 with a strike rate of 93.
In August 2022, Pakistan beat Ireland 3-0 in the three-match ODI series. Babar Azam scored fifties in all three games, Fakhar Zaman made a hundred in the first match and Naseem Shah took a five-for in the last game.
In another 3-match ODI series in January 2023, Babar Azam scored two half-centuries against New Zealand. Pakistan lost the series 2-1.
However, in April 2023, Pakistan won the 5-match ODI series against New Zealand by winning the first four ODIs. Fakhar Zaman scored match-winning hundreds (117 and 180) in the first two games of the series respectively. In the second match, Pakistan chased a stiff target of 337 with ease, winning the match by seven wickets. Babar Azam (65) scored a fifty.
Babar scored another fifty in the third match of the 5-match ODI series, as Pakistan won the game by 26 runs. In the fourth game, Babar scored a ton (107) and his team won by 102 runs. Babar was adjudged player of the match in the fourth game. Fakhar Zaman for his two centuries was declared player of the series.
New Zealand won the last game after losing the first four games of the series.
Pakistan won a 3-match ODI series 3-0 against West Indies and now achieved another clean sweep against Afghanistan in the recently concluded 3-match ODI series in Sri Lanka.
