(Cricket News) Babar Azam notched his 19th century in One Day Internationals (ODIs), marking the first century of the Asia Cup in this edition. Babar Azam secured his century with the aid of nine boundaries, with valuable support from experienced batter Iftikhar Ahmed, who contributed 56 runs, helping Pakistan maintain a strong position in pursuit of a competitive total.

During the match, an unfortunate incident occurred as Babar, who had built an 86-run partnership with wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, watched Rizwan get run out in an unusual manner. In the 24th over, Rizwan attempted a seemingly routine single, but fielder Dipendra Singh made a direct throw that struck the stumps. Rizwan, while approaching the crease, failed to ground his bat, appearing as though he was avoiding the throw, resulting in his run-out.

In the match, Babar won the toss and chose to bat against Nepal. He expressed that there was no additional pressure playing at home, and the team aimed to enjoy their cricket while giving their best effort.

Nepal’s captain, Rohit Paudel, mentioned that his team was delighted to be playing on the grand stage during their Asia Cup debut.

The day before, Babar had expressed his satisfaction with the fact that the Pakistan team was currently ranked No. 1 in ODI rankings, with several players positioned in the top-10 rankings. He emphasized his goal of elevating the team to a higher level and changing the mindset. He also noted that having multiple players in the top-10 brought expectations, and it was essential for the team to meet those expectations by delivering performances that lead to victories.

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