5 youngest ODI players to score centuries

The remarkable game of cricket is loved by millions across the globe. The young cricketing athletes grow up visualizing themselves in their country's colours and only very few dreams do come true.

Cricket has witnessed many players making the debut for their senior side while they are still in their teenage. However, many of them have failed to hold on to a regular spot and have eventually fizzled out at the senior level of the game.

Countries from the sub-continent have a long history of handing a debut to players as young as 17 or maybe even 16. Astoundingly, players from only 3 countries feature in the list of 10 youngest centurions namely Pakistan(5), Bangladesh(4) and Afghanistan.

Now, let us take a look at the 5 youngest cricketers to have scored a century in the ODI format of the game:

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#5 Tamim Iqbal - 19 years and 2 days

The outset of the 21st century also marked the emergence of the Bangladesh cricket team. However, it was only in 2007 that Bangladesh unearthed Tamim Iqbal who has hitherto been the best opener they have ever possessed.

The left-handed Iqbal is perhaps an aggressive player of the new ball and has the knack of pacing his innings watchfully to assist his team's batting performances. In the final ODI against Ireland in 2008 Iqbal smashed 129 runs off 136 balls.

The knock was laden with 15 fours and a solitary six. At the age of 19, he became the youngest centurion for Bangladesh and fourth youngest in International cricket at that time.

#4 Salim Elahi - 18 years and 312 days

Elahi scored an unbeaten ton of 102 on debut against Sri Lanka.

The Pakistan opener played his first ever ODI match aged 18 years and 312 days and guess what he achieved on debut? A century while chasing. On September 29th, 1995, Elahi smashed a ton on debut and became the youngest to do so in ODI format of the game.

The record held by former Pakistan batsman Ijaz Ahmed was surpassed and Elahi stole the headlines as his unbeaten 102 off 133 deliveries ensured that Pakistan chased down Sri Lanka's modest total of 234 with utter ease.

The debutant's century included 7 boundaries and 1 six. However, a dip in consistency levels hampered Elahi's chances in the ODI team and was restricted to only 48 matches where he secured 4 centuries on the whole.

#3 Imran Nazir - 18 years and 121 days

Nazir on his day could dispatch any bowling attack out of the ground with ease.

The dashing Pakistan opener Nazir is the third youngest centurion in the history of ODI cricket. The aggressive opener made his ODI debut aged just 17 but had to wait for a year to score his first ODI hundred.

In the final match of the ODI series, Zimbabwe managed only 207. Chasing 208 to win, Nazir played an entertaining knock which included 10 fours and 2 sixes. His unbeaten 105 ensured that Pakistan won the match without any unease.

Nazir's inconsistencies with the bat paved for him to be constantly in and out of the side. However, he has managed a total of 79 appearances in the Pakistan color and has been a part of many memorable victories.

#2 Usman Ghani - 17 years and 242 days

Ghani made his ODI debut aged just 17 years and 162 days.

Usman Ghani is an Afghanistan cricket team player who made his ODI debut in the year 2014. In the first few matches of his ODI career, Ghani smashed his ODI ton thus becoming the youngest-ever Afghanistan player and second youngest overall to secure a hundred in ODI cricket.

In the second ODI of the series against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo, Ghani scored a watchful knock of 118 from 143 deliveries to clinch the feat. His knock comprised of 12 fours and a six. However, the match wasn't quite memorable as Zimbabwe chased down the target without any difficulties.

#1 Shahid Afridi - 16 years and 217 days

Afridi's 37-ball century stood ground for 17 years until Corey Anderson secured a 36-ball ton.

Shahid Afridi was a prodigy who made his debut on 2nd of October 1996 against Kenya and became the second youngest debutant hitherto in the ODI format. The all-rounder began as a spinner on debut but was sent up the order in his second ODI against Sri Lanka 2 days later.

Well, what the world witnessed next was sheer carnage. Afridi blasted the listless Lankan bowlers for a staggering 11 sixes and 6 fours to bring up the then fastest ever ODI century in just 37 deliveries. His strike rate of a massive 255 caught the eyes of cricketing fraternity.

In addition to this, he became the youngest batsman ever in any format of the game to score a century and the record stands to this day in all formats of the cricket game. Thus, he has consolidated a legendary status in the history of Pakistan cricket.