From Hasan Nawaz To Abid Ali's Masterclass: Top Scores For Pakistan On ODI Debut

Arnav Chopra

Nawaz, Rizwan, Raja, Imam, Elahi, Abid (Source: @sportstarweb, @ICC, @TheRealPCB/X.com)Nawaz, Rizwan, Raja, Imam, Elahi, Abid (Source: @sportstarweb, @ICC, @TheRealPCB/X.com)

Pakistan has had a long history of successful batters who have impressed throughout their careers. While many have gone on to become legends after scoring runs after some grind in International cricket, there are some others who have impressed right from their debut.

In the recently concluded game between Pakistan and the West Indies, Hasan Nawaz impressed with his fluent 63 not out. Therefore, let us have a look at the highest scores by Pakistani batters on their ODI debut.

6. Hasan Nawaz: 63* vs West Indies, Tarouba, 2025*

With his brilliant 63*, coming off 54 deliveries with five boundaries and three maximums, Hasan Nawaz stands on sixth position in this list. He batted beautifully in the first ODI against the West Indies at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba. In the first ODI of the series, West Indies scored 280 after being bowled out in 49 overs, with Shaheen Afridi picking four wickets.

In return, the Pakistan side chased the score down in a thriller, winning by five wickets and with only seven deliveries to spare, getting the target with Nawaz's brilliant effort alongside skipper Mohammad Rizwan's 53 and veteran Babar Azam's 47. The best part about Hasan's innings is that he remained unbeaten and took Pakistan home in the game, showing his composure, that too on his debut.

5. Mohammad Rizwan: 67 vs Bangladesh, Mirpur, 2015

At the 5th position on this list is the current Pakistani skipper, Mohammad Rizwan, who made his debut against Bangladesh back in 2015 in Mirpur. Playing in his first-ever ODI, Rizwan scored a brilliant 67 off 58 deliveries with eight boundaries, but couldn't save Pakistan from embarrassment. They were chasing a victory score of 330 but were bowled out for just 250, losing the game by 79 runs in the first ODI of the series.

Skipper at the time, Azhar Ali, scored 72, while Haris Sohail's 51 couldn't prevent them from an embarrassing loss against the Bangladeshi side. Currently, Rizwan is the skipper of the side and has been one of the finest performers for Pakistan in recent years. Ever since his debut, he has managed to feature in 92 ODIs and score 2,697 runs at an average of 41.49 while striking at 86.44 with four centuries to his name so far. Rizwan's numbers have only gone up, and this innings was just a glimpse of his wonderful career that was about to come.

4. Ramiz Raja: 75 vs New Zealand, Christchurch, 1985

Featuring in fourth position on the list is former PCB chairman and current commentator, Ramiz Raja. In 1985, Pakistan was touring New Zealand for the ODI series. In the third ODI at Christchurch, New Zealand batted first and scored 264. Chasing 265, Pakistan lost the game by just 13 runs, where they could only manage 251 before being bowled out.

Apart from Zaheer Abbas's 58, the star man of the innings was actually the debutant Ramiz Raja, who scored 75 not out off 76 deliveries with seven boundaries and a maximum. Raja turned out to be one of the finest performers for Pakistan, and in his elusive ODI career, he featured in 198 games, scoring 5,841 runs at an average of 32.09, while he had smashed 9 tons in his career alongside 31 half-centuries.

3. Imam-ul-Haq: 100 vs Sri Lanka, Abu Dhabi, 2017

In third position is opening batter Imam-ul-Haq. In 2017, in the third ODI of the series in Abu Dhabi, Pakistan were playing Sri Lanka, where the opposition side batted first and scored 208 after 48.2 overs. In reply, Pakistan chased the score down with ease, winning comfortably by seven wickets and 45 balls to spare.

Debutant Imam-ul-Haq was awarded player of the match, as he scored a brilliant 100 off 125 deliveries with five boundaries and two maximums. No one could better that, as his innings turned out to be the game-changer in his ODI career. Since then, he has featured in 75 ODIs, scoring 3152 runs at an average of 47.04, with 9 centuries and 20 fifties in his tally.

2. Saleem Elahi: 102* vs Sri Lanka, Gujranwala, 1995

Currently, the second player in this exclusive club is Saleem Elahi, who had a brilliant debut against Sri Lanka in 1995. The Sri Lankan side batted first and scored 233 after 50 overs, where the Sri Lankan skipper Arjuna Ranatunga scored 102 not out. In reply, the Pakistan side started lustily, courtesy of the newly found opening duo of Aamer Sohail (77) and the debutant Saleem Elahi, who scored 102* off 133 deliveries with seven fours and one six, as Pakistan won comfortably with nine wickets and 36 balls remaining.

Elahi was awarded player of the match for his brilliant performance, as Pakistan had a new star in their ranks. Elahi played in 48 matches for Pakistan and scored 1579 runs at an average of 36.72, while he went on to score three more centuries after this one.

1. Abid Ali: 112 vs Australia, Dubai, 2019

Finally, the top player on this list is Abid Ali, who made his debut against Australia in Dubai in 2019. Australia batted first and scored 277, as Glenn Maxwell's 98 powered them to an above-par total. In reply, the Pakistan side required a decent start but lost opener Shan Masood early. 

However, the other opener and debutant Abid Ali stood up and scored a fighting 112 off 119 deliveries with nine boundaries to his name, to take Pakistan as close to the total as he could. Followed by Mohammad Rizwan (104), Pakistan were able to score only 271, falling short of the target by six runs, as Australia won the game. However, this match will always be remembered for Abid's brilliant knock on debut, as despite his century, Pakistan couldn't win the game.