ISLAMABAD — Pakistan Television batter Mohammad Shahzad carved his name into the record books on Thursday, striking the fastest first-class century by a Pakistani cricketer off just 49 balls during the President’s Trophy Grade-I clash against Kingsmen Academy at Diamond Cricket Ground.
The landmark innings eclipsed a record that had stood for more than a decade, set by former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who reached three figures off 56 balls against Australia in 2014.
A Record Innings in Numbers
Shahzad’s century arrived in the third round of Pakistan’s premier first-class competition, and he was far from finished when he passed the milestone. The opener went on to make 114 runs from just 62 deliveries, an innings laced with 12 fours and 8 sixes.
The hundred was the sixth of his first-class career, underlining a reputation for aggressive batting at the top of the order.
Among the Fastest Hundreds Ever Recorded
Beyond national significance, Shahzad’s 49-ball effort places him among the elite of global first-class cricket. The knock ranks among the eight fastest centuries ever scored in the format worldwide, a list dominated by a handful of explosive innings across cricket’s long history.
Misbah’s 56-ball hundred against Australia in 2014 had long been regarded as the benchmark for Pakistani batters, achieved during a Test match in Abu Dhabi. Shahzad’s seven-ball improvement represents a significant shift in the record’s standing.
Context and Significance
The President’s Trophy Grade-I serves as Pakistan’s leading domestic first-class tournament, providing a stage for players to press claims for national selection. Performances of this magnitude inevitably draw attention from selectors, particularly given Pakistan’s ongoing search for top-order firepower across formats.
- Fastest Pakistani first-class century: Mohammad Shahzad — 49 balls (2026)
- Previous record: Misbah-ul-Haq — 56 balls (2014)
- Shahzad’s final score: 114 off 62 balls (12 fours, 8 sixes)
- Career first-class hundreds: Six
Whether the innings translates into higher honours remains to be seen, but the record itself now belongs to Shahzad, and the margin — seven deliveries — leaves little room for dispute.
