Pakistan’s star batter and all-format captain Babar Azam is on the cusp of breaking another world record as his side prepares to face New Zealand in the third ODI of the five-match series today (Wednesday) in Karachi.
Azam needs to score only 73 more runs in his next five innings to break South African great Hashim Amla’s record of being the fastest to 5,000 runs in ODI cricket. Amla had set the record in 101 innings during the course of his prolific career.
Azam currently has 4,927 runs in 95 innings at an impressive average of 59.36 and strike-rate of 89.28. He has also notched up 17 hundreds and 25 fifties.
Pakistan lead the five-match ODI series 2-0 after winning the first two fixtures in comprehensive manner.
If the Green Shirts win the ongoing ODI series, it will be their first against the Black Caps since 2011.
Earlier, the Black Caps shocked the home side by squaring a preceding five-match Twenty20 series 2-2 despite missing eight players — including skipper Kane Williamson — due to the ongoing Indian Premier League or injury.
Under stand-in skipper Tom Latham, New Zealand adapted to the conditions skillfully, roaring back from 2-0 down to win the third and fifth matches, with the fourth abandoned after rain.
Pakistan have won five of the seven ODI series that Azam has captained. His two losses came against England in 2021 and New Zealand in January this year.
But New Zealand boast recent dominance over Pakistan. Of the last six ODI series between them, New Zealand have won five and drawn one. Their last series defeat against Pakistan was at home in 2011.
The ODI matches in Karachi are on May 3, 5 and 7.
The tour comes as something of compensation for New Zealand pulling out of their visit to Pakistan on the day of the first game in September 2021, citing security concerns.
The Black Caps played two Tests and three ODIs in Pakistan just three months ago.
- Babar Azam