'When Allah has written..': Babar Azam on ending century drought
What's the story
Ace Pakistan batter Babar Azam has finally broken his long-standing century drought, scoring an unbeaten 102 against Sri Lanka in the second ODI in Rawalpindi. The knock helped Pakistan win the match by eight wickets and secure a 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. It was Babar's first international ton in more than two years, ending a dry spell of 807 days and 83 innings across formats since his last century against Nepal in August 2023.
Milestone match
Babar Azam's century equals Saeed Anwar's record
Babar's century was his 20th in ODIs, equaling the Pakistan ODI record set by Saeed Anwar. "It feels really good that I was able to equal a great Pakistani player like Saeed Anwar in terms of innings," Babar said post-match. The captain also expressed his happiness at achieving this milestone on home soil and promised to perform well in future matches for the team.
Drought reflection
Babar Azam's reflection on his century drought
Babar reflected on his long wait for this century, saying, "I had been waiting for this century like the fans. I kept the belief up. I got starts in a few games against South Africa too but you only get what you wished when God wants you to." He also spoke about focusing more on the moment and making the most of his time at the crease while playing in Pakistan.
Match summary
Pakistan's batting performance and Sri Lanka's innings
Pakistan's batting was dominant, with opener Fakhar Zaman scoring 78 in a strong opening partnership of 77 runs off 58 balls. Mohammad Rizwan remained unbeaten on 51 off 54 balls, forming a crucial 112-run partnership with Babar to secure the victory. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka started promisingly with Kamil Mishara (27) and Pathum Nissanka (24) putting on a solid opening stand of 51 runs during the batting powerplay.