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RAWALPINDI: Pakistan captain Babar Azam has matched Indian star Virat Kohli’s unwanted record of going the longest stretch of international innings without scoring a century, following the ODI clash against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.
Walking in early at 14-1 after 4.1 overs, Babar partnered with Fakhar Zaman to stabilize the innings with a 54-run stand. However, his promising knock ended at 29 runs off 51 balls, bowled by Wanindu Hasaranga after hitting three boundaries.
With this dismissal, Babar has now gone 83 consecutive international innings without scoring a century, equaling Kohli’s earlier slump before the Indian maestro finally broke his drought in his 84th innings against Afghanistan in 2023.
According to statistics, Sanath Jayasuriya holds the record for the longest century drought — 88 innings, followed by *Kohli (83), Babar (83)**, and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (78).
| Player | Innings Without a Century |
|---|---|
| Sanath Jayasuriya | 88 |
| Virat Kohli | 83 |
| Babar Azam | 83* |
| Shivnarine Chanderpaul | 78 |
Meanwhile, Pakistan recovered from a shaky start to post a commanding 299/5 in 50 overs after being reduced to 95-4. The rescue came from Salman Ali Agha and Hussain Talat, who combined for a brilliant 138-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Salman shone with an unbeaten 105 off 87 balls, smashing nine fours, while Talat played a steady hand for 62 off 63 deliveries, striking six fours and a six.
For Sri Lanka, Wanindu Hasaranga was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Asitha Fernando and Maheesh Theekshana grabbed one each.
Despite Babar’s ongoing drought, his consistency and leadership remain crucial as Pakistan aims for a strong series performance against Sri Lanka.
Read: Salman Ali Agha Reflects on Match-Winning Century Against Sri Lanka