#OnThisDay: 23 years ago, Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi scored 37-ball century against Sri Lanka | WATCH

Pakistan's all-rounder Shahid Afridi had held the record for the fastest century in One-Day International cricket for 18 long years.

On this day – October 4 – 23 years ago, he had scored a century off just 37 balls against Sri Lanka.

#OnThisDay in 1996, Shahid Afridi played a  knock against Sri Lanka!

Promoted to bat at No.3, he smashed 102 off just 40 balls. His 37-ball was the fastest ODI century at that time.

His innings was studded with 11 sixes  pic.twitter.com/72LGYeu2qj

— ICC (@ICC) October 4, 2019

When Pakistan were against Sri Lanka at the KCA Centenary tournament in Nairobi in 1996, Afridi - who was promoted to bat at No. 3 - put on a hitting exhibition.

Afridi smashed 102 off just 40 balls and the ton was even more special as it was Afridi’s first international innings that day.

The then 21-year-old right-hander brought up his ton in just 37 balls and his knock was studded with six fours and 11 sixes.

Pakistan went on to score 371/9 in 50 overs, with skipper Saeed Anwar scoring 115 off 120. 

WATCH:

18 years later, New Zealand’s Corey Anderson smashed a 36-ball ton against West Indies in 2014 to get his name in the record books.

A year after that, South Africa's AB de Villiers tore into the Windies attack and registered a 31-ball century. 

That innings, to this day, is the fastest ever hundred scored in an ODI match.