ISLAMABAD: In the first ODI of the home series against Sri Lanka, Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam has done what Indian cricketer Virat Kohli has done.
Babar got out for 29 runs when Wanindu Hasaranga bowled him through the gate, a dismissal that made Babar Azam equal Virat Kohli in an unwanted record – the most consecutive innings without scoring an international century.
Babar has now gone 83 innings without an international hundred, which is the same number of innings that Virat Kohli had prior to breaking his drought in 2023.
Actually, among all the players, the ex-Sri Lanka captain and current head coach of the team, Sanath Jayasuriya, is the one who has the longest time interval between his two centuries – 88 innings. To take an example, the former West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul had a difference of 78 innings between his hundreds.
Babar Azam’s last hundred in international cricket was during the 2023 Asia Cup when he made a ton against Nepal.
Naqvi praises Sri Lankan team’s commitment to the game as tour proceeds
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi thanked the Sri Lankan cricket team on their determination to carry out the tour in Pakistan. Naqvi also gave assurance to the Sri Lankan players that they would be given a top-notch security detail throughout their stay in Pakistan.
Mohsin Naqvi went on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to thank the team for their determination to carry out the tour in spite of the circumstances. He described the decision as an ideal case of the game spirit and the friendship between the two nations.
Mohsin Naqvi, Chairman PCB, expressed his gratitude to the Sri Lankan team for their decision to proceed with the Pakistan tour. He assured them that the security arrangements made for their visit would be of the highest standard. The spirit of sportsmanship and solidarity is the brightest. The ODI matches between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be played on 14th and 16th November in Rawalpindi. ”
In addition to that, Naqvi’s message is a further indication that the ODI matches between Pakistan and Sri Lanka are planned to happen in Rawalpindi on the 14th and 16th of November 2025.
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The PCB promise to provide a safe environment for the Sri Lankan team was a determining factor in the decision of the Sri Lankan team to go on with the tour. The two countries, now being fully preoccupied with the matches, have given a positive signal to the cricket community that this series will not only be a platform for friendly challenges but also a means to strengthen the bond between Pakistan and Sri Lanka both on and off the field.
