Babar Azam hits 20th ODI century to draw level with Saeed Anwar
Cricket
Babar Azam struck his 20th ODI century in Rawalpindi, equalling Saeed Anwar’s Pakistan record after a two-year wait.
RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) – Babar Azam on Friday returned to the ODI centuries list in emphatic fashion, hitting an unbeaten 102 in Rawalpindi to equal Saeed Anwar’s national record of 20 hundreds.
The landmark innings came during Pakistan’s eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the second match of the KFC Presents Bank Alfalah ODI Series 2025.
Coming into the fixture with his last ODI century recorded two years ago, Babar produced a composed and controlled performance at the top of the chase. His 119-ball effort featured precision strokes, steady rotation of strike and a late acceleration that ensured Pakistan’s pursuit of 289 remained firmly on course.
The roar. The noise. The celebrations. @babarazam258 has done it! A moment to savour for Rawalpindi
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 14, 2025
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Supported by Fakhar Zaman’s 78 and Mohammad Rizwan’s unbeaten 51, Babar anchored the innings from the early overs until the winning stroke. His partnership-building and adaptability against pace and spin kept Pakistan ahead of the required rate, maintaining complete control of the contest.
Pakistan seal ODI series as Babar's century guides 289-run chase against Sri Lanka
Babar’s milestone moves him alongside Anwar’s tally of 20 centuries, achieved with a significantly higher career average. The achievement further consolidates his position as one of Pakistan’s most consistent ODI performers of the modern era.
