Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan Start In A Bang With Many Records; Babar Azam Records 2nd Highest Score

Asia Cup 2023 started with a Group A dominant victory from Pakistan against the Asia Cup debutant Nepal at Multan. It was one of the record-breaking matches in the ODI Asia Cup history.

In the tournament opener (August 30), the hosts Pakistan chose to bat first after winning the toss. Though Pakistan lost both their openers cheaply, captain Babar Azam and middle-order batter Iftikhar Ahmed slammed centuries. While Babar scored 151 runs in 131 balls (14 fours and four sixes), fiery Iftikhar scored 109 runs in 71 balls (11 fours and four sixes).

Also, Mohammad Rizwan scored 44 runs off 50 balls with the help of six fours. Those batting performances helped the hosts to score 342/6 in 50 overs.

In reply, Nepal were bundled out for only 104 runs in 23.4 overs. Only Aarif Sheikh (26), Sompal Kami (28) and Gulsan Jha (13) managed double-digit scores in that chasing.

Pakistan leg-spinner Shadab Khan claimed a four-wicket haul as he finished with bowling figures of 6.4-0-27-4.

Here are some crucial stats of the match.

Asia Cup (ODI) record: Babar Azam scored the highest runs as a captain

• Babar recorded the highest score in the ODI Asia Cup history as a captain. The previous record was 136 runs by the Indian skipper Virat Kohli against Bangladesh at Fatullah on February 26, 2014.

Asia Cup (ODI) record: Babar Azam managed the second-highest score

• Babar became the second batter to score 150+ runs in ODI Asia Cup history. Indian cricketer Virat Kohli was the first cricketer to record it when he scored 183 runs against Pakistan at Mirpur during the Asia Cup 2012 (March 18, 2012).

Asia Cup (ODI) record: Iftikhar Ahmed recorded fourth fastest century

• With his 67-ball hundred, Iftikhar recorded the joint fifth-fastest ODI century for Pakistan. Meanwhile, it was also the fourth fastest hundred in the ODI Asia Cup history.

Fastest ODI centuries for Pakistan

Fastest ODI centuries in ODI Asia Cup

Asia Cup (ODI) record: Pakistan recorded eighth twin hundreds

• Babar and Iftikhar scored twin centuries in the game. It was the eighth innings with two centuries in the ODI Asia Cup history. Meanwhile, it was the fourth time in ODI Asia Cup history Pakistan innings managed two centuries.

Asia Cup (ODI) record: Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed set up the 3rd highest partnership

• Babar and Iftikhar’s 214-run partnership was the highest fifth-wicket ODI partnership for Pakistan. The previous record was 176 runs between Younis Khan and Umar Akmal against Sri Lanka at Colombo (RPS) on August 7, 2009.

• Babar and Iftikhar’s 214-run partnership for the fifth wicket was the third-highest partnership for any wicket in the ODI Asia Cup history.

Highest ODI Asia Cup partnerships for any wicket

Asia Cup (ODI) record: Pakistan recorded fifth highest total

• Pakistan’s 342/6 (50 overs) was the fifth-highest ODI Asia Cup total. Meanwhile, it was Pakistan’s third-highest total in the tournament history.

Asia Cup (ODI) record: Nepal registered fifth lowest total

• Nepal’s 104 all out was the fifth-lowest completed total in the ODI Asia Cup history.

Asia Cup (ODI) record: Pakistan managed 2nd largest winning margin

• Pakistan won the match by 238 runs. It was the second-largest victory (by runs) in the ODI Asia Cup history. The record is India won by 256 runs vs Hong Kong at Karachi on 25 June 2008.

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Highest Individual scores in ODI Asia Cup history

Most centuries in Asia Cup ODI format

Most fifties in Asia Cup ODI format

Most Runs in Asia Cup ODI Format