Babar Azam's record-smashing ton helps Pakistan win 4th ODI vs NZ, claim number 1 ranking for first time
Bilateral cricket will suffer at expense of growing T20 leagues around the world, say former legends
"I will say that the credit goes to the entire team and support staff for becoming the number-one ranked ODI team," said Azam. "We built the momentum and worked towards this goal.
"I think my journey has been good. I joined the camp on this very day nine years ago, and there have been ups and downs, but the support has been amazing."
Azam starred with his 30th ton in all international cricket after New Zealand won the toss and put the hosts in to bat at National Stadium. The 28-year-old beat Amla's record when he reached 19. He added 50 for the second wicket with Shan Masood (44), 127 for the fourth wicket with Agha Salman (58) and another 41 for the sixth with Iftikhar Ahmed who scored 28.
Azam, who has been the number one ODI batter for the last two years, hit 10 boundaries before he was caught at deep mid-wicket off debutant Ben Lister in the 48th over.
Azam is the 14th Pakistani to score 5,000 or more runs in ODI cricket, with former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq top of the list with 11,701. He is also the fastest to 18 ODI hundreds, beating Amla's record of 102 innings.
"When we started our innings, the wicket played well. I and Shan planned to build the innings. We felt it was 300-plus wicket and then we bowled well," added Azam.
Salman chipped in with two sixes and four fours in his 46-ball knock before being caught and bowled by pacer Matt Henry who finished with 3-65. Shaheen Shah Afridi hit three sixes and a four in his seven-ball 23 not out as Pakistan plundered 94 runs in the last 10 overs.
"Credit to the way they played, Babar played fantastically," said New Zealand's Latham.
Saturday, May 6, 2023 at 3:27 am