Babar Azam eyes Saeed Anwar's ODI century record as Pakistan set to face South Africa

Record Babar can attain vs SA [Source: AFP Photo]

After a successful T20I series against the South African side, where Pakistan emerged victorious, 2-1, the focus now shifts towards the ODI leg of the tour, with the matches beginning on Tuesday. The Men in Green have had a horrendous ODI record in 2025 as they crashed out of the Champions Trophy in the group stage, and changed their captain afterwards.

The focus will also be on Pakistan’s star player, Babar Azam, who roared back to form with a match-winning fifty in the T20I series decider. He will once again hold the key as the batter is under pressure to deliver the goods, but the elegant batter has a great chance to equal one of Saeed Anwar’s ODI records.

Huge ODI record Babar can equal in South Africa series

Babar has 19 ODI centuries for Pakistan, and if the star batter manages to score one ton in the upcoming series, he would join Saeed Anwar as the Pakistan player with the most ODI hundreds for Pakistan (20). Interestingly, Babar scored his 19th century in August 2023, and since then, he has been waiting for the elusive 20 ton landmark.

While Anwar has 20 ODI centuries in 247 matches, Babar has a chance to equal the record in the upcoming series in fewer matches.

Other milestone Babar can achieve vs South Africa

If the Pakistan batter bags a player of the match award vs South Africa, he would surpass the great Imran Khan and would become the Pakistan player with the joint-seventh most Man of the Match prizes in international cricket. He recently earned the coveted prize during the 3rd T20I Vs the Proteas team.

Also, if Babar scores 273 runs in the 3-match series, he would surpass Ijaz Ahmed to occupy the 10th place in the most ODI runs for Pakistan. Currently, Babar has 6291 runs, while Ahmed has 6564 runs.

---

ALSO READ

Babar Azam at 3, Fakhar to open with Saim; Haris Rauf out: PAK strongest XI for 1st ODI vs SA

---