Top 10 Batsmen with Most Runs for Pakistan in ODIs

Over the years, Pakistan has seen some legendary batters in One Day Internationals (ODIs). From classic stroke players to big hitters, these stars helped shape Pakistan’s cricket history. Let’s take a look at the top 10 Most Runs for Pakistan in ODIs.

Most Runs for Pakistan in ODIs – Top 10 Players

Rank	Player	Matches	Innings	Runs	Average	Strike Rate	100s	50s	Highest Score
1	Inzamam-ul-Haq	375	348	11,701	39.53	74.20	10	83	137*
2	Mohammad Yousuf	281	267	9,554	42.08	74.91	15	62	141*
3	Saeed Anwar	247	244	8,824	39.21	80.67	20	43	194
4	Shahid Afridi	393	364	8,027	23.81	116.94	6	39	124
5	Shoaib Malik	287	258	7,534	34.55	81.90	9	44	143
6	Javed Miandad	233	218	7,381	41.70	67.01	8	50	119*
7	Younis Khan	265	255	7,249	31.24	75.29	7	48	144
8	Saleem Malik	283	256	7,170	32.88	76.41	5	47	102
9	Mohammad Hafeez	218	216	6,614	32.90	76.61	11	38	140*
10	Ijaz Ahmed	250	232	6,564	32.33	80.30	10	37	139*
11	Babar Azam	140	137	6501	53.72	87.16	20	37	158

A Closer Look at the Top Performers

1. Inzamam-ul-Haq – The King of Middle Order

Inzamam was Pakistan’s central pillar of batting. He was cool under pressure and consistently contributed in big games, often rescuing Pakistan from crisis. With nearly 12,000 runs, nobody can even come close to his ODI record… yet.

2. Mohammad Yousuf – Mr. Consistency

Yousuf was all about grace and timing. He didn’t just score runs but made batting look simple. He had a calmness at the crease, even though he scored heavily in hard conditions.

3. Saeed Anwar – The Classy Opener

Saeed Anwar’s 194-run knock against India stood as a record for years. He was stylish, attacking, and gave Pakistan strong starts for more than a decade.

4. Shahid Afridi – The Entertainer

Though Afridi’s average may not have been as strong as others, his influence on the game was unmatched. He brought exciting batting, and with a strike rate above 116 and 349 sixes, he has a player who could turn matches around in a few minutes.

5. Shoaib Malik – The Steady Performer

Malik quietly built his career with important innings and match-winning knocks. Whether playing anchor or finisher, he always adjusted as per the team’s need.

6. Javed Miandad – The Fighter

Miandad’s batting was a fearless bat, especially in pressure moments, and his way of thinking about the game and ability to so realistically change his batting style makes him a legend long before most of today’s cricketers even picked up the bat.

7. Younis Khan – Grit and Grind

Younis was never the most showy player, but you always knew what you were getting. He played the game with his heart and put the expectations of the team in front of him every time he made it on the field.

8. Saleem Malik – The Underrated Maestro

A name not talked about enough today, Saleem Malik had solid numbers and carried the middle order for many years, especially in the ‘80s and early ‘90s.

9. Mohammad Hafeez – Professor with the Bat

Hafeez was more than a jack of all trades. He scored over 6,600 runs and had a couple of memorable innings that would push Pakistan to victory on several key occasions.

10. Ijaz Ahmed – The Quiet Contributor

Ijaz was someone who was often neglected. But he made 10 centuries and at a good strike rate, he played a vital part in Pakistan’s batting line-up in the 90s.

11. Babar Azam – The Modern Day Star

Babar Azam has quickly become one of Pakistan’s most reliable ODI batters. Since his debut in 2015, he has scored 6501 runs in 140 matches with an outstanding average of 53.72, one of the highest batting averages in ODI cricket among modern players.

Known for his elegant cover drives and calm temperament, Babar consistently anchors Pakistan’s innings while maintaining a healthy strike rate. He has already registered 20 centuries and 37 half-centuries, placing him among the active players with the most centuries in ODI cricket.

If he continues at this pace, Babar Azam could soon climb into the top 5 for most runs for Pakistan in ODIs, and potentially challenge some of the biggest records in ODI cricket.

What’s Next for Pakistan?

Babar Azam is advancing so fast it won’t be a shock to see him breaking into the top 5 any time soon. His ODI average is already among the elite. If you want to know who the upcoming stars will be, consider reading Top 10 Emerging Young Cricketers to Watch Out for in 2025.