Imam-ul-Haq’s superb 101 against South Africa at SuperSport Park helped his side set the Proteas a challenging score of 318 for victory … but it also put the opener second on the list of fastest batsmen to 1000 ODI runs.
Imam’s race to 1000 ODI runs has been helped by the opener scoring heavily against Zimbabwe (three centuries) Bangladesh and Afghanistan (80s against both nations), but his innings of 86 and 101 against the strong Proteas bowling attack have certainly proven his credentials at the highest level.
Imam-ul-Haq’s first 19 ODI innings
| Runs | Balls | S/R | Dismissal | Opposition | Year |
| 100 | 125 | 80.00 | caught | Sri Lanka | 2017 |
| 2 | 3 | 66.66 | lbw | Sri Lanka | 2017 |
| 45* | 64 | 70.31 | not out | Sri Lanka | 2017 |
| 2 | 11 | 18.18 | caught | New Zealand | 2018 |
| 128 | 134 | 95.52 | caught | Zimbabwe | 2018 |
| 44 | 51 | 86.27 | run out | Zimbabwe | 2018 |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | caught | Zimbabwe | 2018 |
| 113 | 122 | 92.62 | caught | Zimbabwe | 2018 |
| 110 | 105 | 104.76 | lbw | Zimbabwe | 2018 |
| 50* | 69 | 72.46 | not out | Hong Kong | 2018 |
| 2 | 7 | 28.57 | caught | India | 2018 |
| 80 | 104 | 76.92 | run out | Afghanistan | 2018 |
| 10 | 20 | 50.00 | lbw | India | 2018 |
| 83 | 105 | 79.04 | stumped | Bangladesh | 2018 |
| 34 | 46 | 73.91 | caught | New Zealand | 2018 |
| 16* | 34 | 47.05 | retired | New Zealand | 2018 |
| 86 | 101 | 85.14 | caught | South Africa | 2019 |
| 5 | 14 | 35.71 | caught | South Africa | 2019 |
| 101 | 116 | 87.06 | caught | South Africa | 2019 |
Ul-Haq was also the second-fastest to the mark in terms of days since ODI debut, taking one year and 99 days from his debut 100 against Sri Lanka to Friday’s 101 against the Proteas. He reached the mark just more than a month slower than Fakhar Zaman, who reached his 1000 runs in one year and 45 days.
Pakistan’s Yasir Hameed reached the 1000-run mark in just 242 days after his debut, while New Zealand’s legendary batsman Glenn Turner took a few days short of 10 years to get to his 1000 ODI mark, although that was owing to the scarcity of ODIs in the 1970s and early 1980s when he played.
South African-born and Pakistan-born batsmen dominate the ‘fastest to 1000 ODI runs’ mark, with 10 of the top 13 players in the list being South African-born and Pakistan-born (both have five players). Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Azhar Ali and Yasir Hameed for Pakistan, while Pietersen, Trott, De Kock, Ten Doeschate and Amla were all born in South Africa.
Fastest batsmen to 1000 ODI runs
| Player | Debut | Time | Mat | Inns |
| Fakhar Zaman (PAK) | 7 Jun 2017 | 1y 45d | 18 | 18 |
| Imam-ul-Haq (PAK) | 18 Oct 2017 | 1y 99d | 19 | 19 |
| IVA Richards (WI) | 7 Jun 1975 | 4y 229d | 22 | 21 |
| KP Pietersen (ENG/ICC) | 28 Nov 2004 | 1y 123d | 27 | 21 |
| IJL Trott (ENG) | 27 Aug 2009 | 1y 187d | 21 | 21 |
| Q de Kock (SA) | 19 Jan 2013 | 1y 212d | 21 | 21 |
| Babar Azam (PAK) | 31 May 2015 | 1y 233d | 21 | 21 |
| CG Greenidge (WI) | 11 Jun 1975 | 4y 352d | 23 | 23 |
| RN ten Doeschate (NL) | 4 Jul 2006 | 3y 59d | 24 | 23 |
| Azhar Ali (PAK) | 30 May 2011 | 4y 50d | 23 | 23 |
| GM Turner (NZ) | 11 Feb 1973 | 9y 354d | 25 | 24 |
| Yasir Hameed (PAK) | 20 May 2003 | 0y 242d | 24 | 24 |
| HM Amla (SA) | 9 Mar 2008 | 2y 74d | 25 | 24 |
| V Kohli (INDIA) | 18 Aug 2008 | 1y 291d | 27 | 24 |
Stats: Cricinfo
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images
