Fastest 1000 runs as ODI captain: The Pakistani captain is scoring runs for fun in spite of the added leadership responsibility.
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During the first ODI of the ongoing West Indies’ tour of Pakistan in Multan yesterday, Pakistan captain Babar Azam scored his 17th ODI century in a winning effort. In the process, Azam became the first-ever cricketer to score three consecutive ODI centuries twice in a career.
Coming in to bat at No. 3 in the seventh over of a 306-run chase, Azam scored an assured 103 (107) with the help of nine fours before getting out in the 42nd over.
Playing his first-ever international match at the Multan Cricket Stadium, Azam scored 11 (21) before hitting West Indies pacer Alzarri Joseph for his first boundary of the night. Not affected by the need to score over six runs per over to win the match, Azam was secure enough to take his time whilst scoring the occasional boundary in a crucial 103-run second-wicket partnership with opening batter Imam-ul-Haq (65).
It was on the first delivery of the 26th over that Azam slashed Joseph for a boundary to complete a half-century with Pakistan requiring more than seven runs per over to win the match. Azam, who hit Joseph for another boundary in the same over, more or less continued in a similar fashion before completing his century via a boundary off spinner Hayden Walsh in the 41st over.
In what was his fifth ODI century against West Indies, it is the most for him against any opposition in this format. Also his fifth ODI century at home, it was Azam’s sixth as captain and third this year.
Fastest 1000 runs as ODI captain
| Player | Team | Innings |
| Babar Azam | Pakistan | 13 |
| Virat Kohli | India | 17 |
| AB de Villiers | South Africa | 18 |
| Kane Williamson | New Zealand | 20 |
| Alastair Cook | England | 21 |
