Asia Cup 2023: Babar Azam breaks Virat Kohli's 8-year old record

Pakistan captain Babar Azam smashed 151 against Nepal in the first match of Asia Cup 2023.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam has smashed a record-breaking 19th ODI century. Azam played a blistering knock against Nepal in Asia Cup 2023 opener at Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan. Babar Azam became the fastest batsman to score 19 ODI centuries as he broke former South African opener Hashim Amla’s record by two innings. Babar has also broken another batting record with his 151-runs knock in the opening game. Pakistan captain took his team out of danger along with middle-order batter Iftikhar Ahmed after losing a few early wickets. Babar has now become the captain with highest score in Asia Cup event.

Babar Azam breaks Virat Kohli’s record

Along with being the quickest to reach the 19th-century record, Babar broke one of Virat Kohli’s records as well. He overtook Virat Kohli’s 136 and now holds the record for scoring the most runs in one innings as captain in Asia Cup. Virat Kohli scored 136 runs as captain of India in Asia Cup 2014 in Fatullah (Bangladesh). Virat Kohli played that knock while chasing 280 runs. Virat Kohli overtook former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly record in that innings. Ganguly smashed an unbeaten 135 runs against Bangladesh in 2000 Asia Cup.

Babar Azam scored 151 runs in 131 balls and smashed 14 fours and four sixes in his innings. First, he added 86 runs for the 3rd wicket along with wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan, then a 214-run stand in 134 balls along with Iftikhar Ahmed. Babar Azam anchored the innings nicely and helped Pakistan come out of a crisis after losing early wickets. Pakistan lost two wickets inside the power play and then two in quick succession in mid-innings. As Pakistan kept loosing wickets their captain stood tall on one end.

Along with Babar Azam, middle-order batter Iftikhar Ahmed also smashed his maiden ODI century in just 67 balls. Iftikhar scored 109 runs in 71 balls, smashing 11 fours and four sixes. Batting first, Pakistan scored 342 runs. Nepal have lost their first three wickets inside five overs and are struggling to build a partnership. Shaheen Afridi picked up two wickets in his first over to dismiss opener Kushal Bhurtel (8) and captain Rohit Paudel on a golden duck.

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