Pakistan is known for their strong bowling attack, especially the rich battery of pace bowlers they have had over the years. But at the same time, Pakistan did possess some of the finest batters in the history of the ODI games, who provided additional spark to the format. They time and again produce some of the best batters across generations, and their overall record seconds that opinion.
The number of runs scored in a game by a team and its major contributors is an important metric that determines the match result. In this article, we will dwell on the top individual run-scorers for the men in green in the ODI format.
Here are the Top 10 highest individual scores by a Pakistani batter in the 50-over format of the game.
Highest Individual ODI Scores by Pakistani Batsmen
| Player | Runs (balls) | 4s/6s | Opponent | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fakhar Zaman | 210* (156) | 24/5 | Zimbabwe | Bulawayo | July 20, 2018 |
| Saeed Anwar | 194 (146) | 22/5 | India | Chennai | May 21, 1997 |
| Fakhar Zaman | 193 (155) | 18/10 | South Africa | Johannesburg | April 4, 2021 |
| Fakhar Zaman | 180* (144) | 17/6 | New Zealand | Rawalpindi | April 29, 2023 |
| Imran Nazir | 160 (121) | 14/8 | Zimbabwe | Kingston | March 21, 2007 |
| Babar Azam | 158 (139) | 14/4 | England | Birmingham | July 13, 2021 |
| Sharjeel Khan | 152 (86) | 16/9 | Ireland | Dublin | August 18, 2016 |
| Imam-ul-Haq | 151 (131) | 16/1 | England | Bristol | May 14, 2019 |
| Babar Azam | 151 (131) | 14/4 | Nepal | Multan | August 30, 2023 |
| Younis Khan | 144 (122) | 8/3 | Hong Kong | Colombo | July 18, 2004 |
Key insights from the above stats
1: There have been 10 instances of a double ton being scored by a batter in ODI cricket, and one of them came from the bat of Pakistani batsman Fakhar Zaman.
210: Highest ever score by a Pakistani batter in the 50-over format of the game, and this belongs to the player mentioned above, Fakhar Zaman. His 210* against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in 2018 remains the best score by a player from Pakistan. His knock came in 156 balls and included 24 fours and 5 sixes as it helped the visiting team register their highest-ever ODI score of 399 and win the game comprehensively by 244 runs.
3: There are 3 different times when the current Pakistani opener, Fakhar Zaman, makes the list. He is the proud owner of Pakistan’s 3 of the top 4 highest ODI scores ever made by an individual batsman. Apart from the breathtaking 210 Zaman scored at Bulawayo, the left-hander showed his penchant for scoring big ODI runs at Johannesburg and Rawalpindi against South Africa and New Zealand, respectively.
During Pakistan’s tour of South Africa in 2021, Zaman scored a spectacular 193, including 10 sixes and 18 fours, almost defying the inevitable during their chase of 342. Pakistan was 186/6 at one stage, but Zaman’s never say die attitude brought the visitors close to pulling off a heist. He missed scoring his second double ton but was arguably the best knock ever in a losing cause and the highest-ever score in a run-chase.
The other inning in which Fakhar Zaman made a headline in ODIs was at Rawalpindi against visiting New Zealand in April 2023, when he made a match-winning unbeaten 180. It was a high-scoring game where Pakistan had to chase a huge score of 337, and Zaman’s 180 helped the home team reach the target in under 49 overs.
10: Number of maximums smacked by Fakhar Zaman in his knock of 193 against South Africa. This is the joint second-most number of sixes hit by a Pakistani player in an ODI inning.
194: Saeed Anwar is the other Pakistani name in the top-4 highest scorer list, and the former batsman scored a staggering 194 way back in 1997 against India in Chennai. Regarded as one of the finest openers of his era, Anwar smashed his way into the record books with his stunning knock in just 146 balls against the arch-rivals, and this propelled Pakistan to a mammoth score of 327, while the hosts could only manage to reply with 292. This stood as a benchmark in ODIs’ long-standing highest ODI score until it was equalled by Charles Coventry and Sachin overtook it with a 200* in 2010.
160: The score posted by Pakistan’s former opening batsman Imran Nazir in a World Cup group game against Zimbabwe in 2007 at Kingston. Pakistan, which bowed out early in that tournament, had won this game by 99 runs (DLS), and Nazir’s 160 helped Pakistan amass 349 on the board. This still remains the highest score by a Pakistani batter in an ODI World Cup game.
158: Babar Azam’s 158 is the highest-ever score by a Pakistani skipper in ODIs, and the No. 1 ODI batter became the proud owner of this record in a game against England in 2021 at Birmingham. Azam made his career-best ODI score in 139 balls, and this allowed Pakistan to amass 331 runs in the process. However, his efforts went in vain as the inexperienced England batting line-up got the better of the visitors in the run chase as they claimed victory by 3 wickets. Despite coming in a losing cause, this inning by Babar was yet another master-class batting display from a champion batter.
Also Read: Babar Azam – ODI Runs – Year by Year
152: Sharjeel Khan smashed Pakistan’s fastest 150 in ODIs when he hammered 152 off just 86 balls against Ireland in 2016. The left-hander became the 4th fastest ODI century maker for his country when he brought up his ton in 61 balls, and eventually, he reached the 150 milestone in 85 balls with the help of 16 fours and 9 maximums. Sharjeel Khan, though, didn’t play much after this, but this remains an impactful ODI innings by a Pakistani batter.
Also Read: The Fastest Five 150 Scores in ODI Cricket
151: Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman’s long-standing ODI opening partner, also makes it to the list following his sensational 151 off just 131 balls at Bristol in 2019, just before the World Cup season. Largely due to Imam’s effort and a good finish from the Pakistani lower and middle order, the visitors were able to pile up 358 on the board, but the chase masters from England closed down the target with more than 5 overs to spare.
2: Only 2 batters on the list who find a place despite not making an ODI score of more than 150 in their career, and they are the former skippers Younis Khan and Shoaib Malik. The prolific batters for Pakistan made 144 and 143, respectively, as their career-best scores in the 50-over format, and both of these knocks came in the 2004 edition of the Asia Cup. While Younus made 144 off 122 against Hong Kong, who made their rare appearance in the Asia Cup, Malik’s 143 came against a better bowling attack from India. Pakistan won both of those games in the end.
