Babar Azam ends his two-year century drought with a sensational century against Sri Lanka in the second one-day international (ODI) at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Babar Azam’s remarkable 32nd international century finally arrived after a long gap of two years, two months, and 15 days, delighting fans across Pakistan and cricket lovers worldwide.
The star batter brought up the century off 115 balls, elegantly pulling Pramod Madushan for a single. Babar had last scored an international hundred during the ACC Men’s Asia Cup match against Nepal in 2023 but struggled to convert his starts into big innings in the following period.
During the drought, the 31-year-old displayed consistent form, scoring multiple half-centuries across formats. Yet, the elusive 100-run mark continued to escape him. In the first ODI of the home series against Sri Lanka earlier this week, Babar showcased glimpses of brilliance before being dismissed by Wanindu Hasaranga’s googly for 29 runs, stretching his wait for a milestone century.
Babar’s streak had reached 83 innings without a century across formats, drawing comparisons to Indian star Virat Kohli and placing him behind only Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya for the most innings without an international century. But in his 84th innings since the last hundred, Babar finally broke the barrier after 807 days.
This century marked Babar Azam’s 32nd in international cricket, including 20 in ODIs, nine in Tests, and three in T20Is. Across formats, he has now accumulated 104 half-centuries, showcasing his remarkable consistency and elite batting prowess.
By scoring this century against Sri Lanka, Babar also equalled the record for the most ODI centuries for Pakistan, matching Saeed Anwar’s legendary 20 centuries. While Anwar achieved the feat in 244 innings, Babar reached it in just 136 innings, cementing his status as one of Pakistan cricket’s modern greats.
Babar Azam’s century not only ends a prolonged wait but also reinforces his reputation as Pakistan’s batting cornerstone and a global cricket superstar. Fans and analysts alike hail his return to top form just in time for Pakistan’s ongoing ODI series, signaling a major boost for the team’s confidence.