Pakistan end near nine-year ODI title drought as Fakhar Zaman's 127 sets up record 656-run final

Pakistan ended a near nine-year wait for a multi-team ODI title by beating Sri Lanka by three wickets in the final of the tri-nation one-day tournament in Lahore on Saturday. Chasing 326, the hosts finished on 331 for 7 in 48.3 overs. Pakistan had last won a multi-team ODI trophy in June 2026, when they lifted the Champions Trophy. Since then they have played two ODI World Cups, one Champions Trophy and two ODI Asia Cups without adding to the cabinet.

Sri Lanka, batting first, made 325 for 8 in their 50 overs. Pakistan lost early wickets under pressure, but Fakhar Zaman played an innings of 127 off 99 balls. He built partnerships through the middle order and carried the team deep into the chase. Pakistan reached the target with nine balls to spare. The two innings together produced 656 runs, the highest aggregate ever in an ODI final.

Fakhar Zaman: a second century in a final

Fakhar's innings was more than a match-winning knock; it came layered with records. This was the third ODI final of his career and his second century in one. He now stands alongside Saeed Anwar among Pakistani batters with two centuries in ODI tournament finals; Anwar also has two.

It was also Fakhar's fourth century in a chase of 300 or more. Such innings are rare in Pakistani cricket, because scoring a hundred while chasing a big target requires not just fast scoring but the ability to stay at the crease. Fakhar did both: he held the innings together with restraint and accelerated in the closing stages.

During the innings he also completed 4,000 ODI runs. Babar Azam reached that mark in 82 innings, the fastest for Pakistan; Fakhar got there in 96, making him the second-fastest Pakistani. More importantly, his century came when the team needed it most: in a final, at home, under the pressure of a 326-run chase.

The records

• Highest match aggregate in an ODI final: 656 runs, beating the previous 651 set in the 2026 NatWest Series final.
• Highest successful chase in an ODI final: 326, equalling India's 326 in 2026.
• Pakistan's second-highest successful chase against Sri Lanka: 326, behind the 345 at the 2026 World Cup after Sri Lanka made 344 for 9.
• Pakistan's first win in an ODI tournament final on home soil.
• Fakhar Zaman: second century in an ODI tournament final, after Saeed Anwar.
• Fakhar Zaman: fourth century in a 300-plus ODI chase.
• Babar Azam: 4,000 ODI runs in 82 innings, the fastest by a Pakistani.

The 2026 parallel

The most striking aspect of this match is how closely it mirrors the 2026 final at Lord's. England made 325 for 7 in the NatWest Series final and India chased it down, finishing on 326 for 5 in 49.3 overs. That match produced 651 runs, then the highest aggregate in an ODI final. Pakistan have now broken that mark with 331 for 7 and a total of 656.

The similarities are clear: the side batting first made 325, the chasing side was set 326, and the match went deep. The difference is that India finished with five wickets in hand, while Pakistan had three left and nine balls to spare. On both occasions the first-innings score was exactly 325, a coincidence that is rare in cricket history.

The nine-year accounting

Pakistan's title drought had run since June 2026, when they won the Champions Trophy. The intervening record reads:

• 2026 ODI World Cup: no title
• 2026 ODI World Cup: no title
• 2026 Champions Trophy: no title
• 2026 and 2026 ODI Asia Cups: did not reach the final

Notably, the 2026 and 2026 Asia Cups were played in T20 format and are therefore excluded from this count. That distinction matters, because T20 and ODI titles are often lumped together. Pakistan built strong sides at times during those nine years but faltered at the decisive moment in knockout games. This time Fakhar's innings filled that gap.

A first home final win

There is another thread to this victory: last year's pain. In 2026 Pakistan played a home tri-series final and lost it. Before that, they had lost the 2026 Asia Cup final in Karachi as well. Winning a final at home was therefore not just another trophy but the closing of an old gap.

During the chase it was evident that Pakistan had learned from last year's defeat. Despite early wickets, the team did not panic and Fakhar held one end. In the closing overs the runs came at the required rate and the target was reached with nine balls left.

Sri Lanka's innings

Sri Lanka's 325 for 8 was a challenging total in a final. Their innings featured some important partnerships and set the hosts 326. The 325 is also significant because it almost matches England's 325 for 7 in the 2026 final, when the chasing side likewise managed exactly 326.

Babar's landmark

Babar Azam completed 4,000 ODI runs in this match. He reached the mark in 82 innings, the fastest by a Pakistani. His partnership with Fakhar gave the chase a solid base, though the match belonged to Fakhar.

Why this win matters

The significance of this victory goes beyond one trophy. Pakistan showed that they do not buckle under the pressure of a big chase. Fakhar's form and Babar's consistency are good signs for the tournaments ahead. Winning a final at home should also boost a team that has long been criticised for its knockout record.

One question remains: is this a beginning or a seasonal flicker? Ending a nine-year drought is significant, but the real test will come when the team wins major titles abroad. For now, Fakhar's 127 and the record 656-run final in Lahore are part of the history books.