Against New Zealand at Hamilton, Sufiyan Muqeem made the highest individual score in men’s ODIs by a No.12, while Naseem Shah marginally missed out on the corresponding record for the No.11.
New Zealand beat Pakistan by 84 runs in the second ODI, at Hamilton, to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. They seemed to be headed for an even larger margin when they posted 292-8 and had Pakistan at 72-7.
2nd ODI, New Zealand vs Pakistan
vs
- Ball by ball Over
Haris Rauf hit while batting, replaced by Naseem Shah
At 93-7, Haris Rauf was hit on the helmet and had to retire hurt. At 114-8, Rauf’s concussion substitute Naseem came on to bat and helped Faheem (73 in 80 balls) add 60 for the ninth wicket. Naseem then blazed away to a career-best 44-ball 51 before Ben Sears (5-59) ended the innings.
Read more: New Zealand wicketkeeper stranded on 99*, joins Sehwag, Clarke on rare ODI list
At the other end, Muqeem – the No.12 batter – remained unbeaten on 13. This is now the highest score by a No.12 in international cricket. He broke the record of Zahir Khan, who had made four not out against Bangladesh in the Mirpur Test of 2023. In fact, Muqeem’s 13 is more than the runs made by all other No.12s put together (8) in international cricket.
Since international cricket has always been 11-a-side, the position became logically possible only after concussion and Covid-19 permitted full substitutions.
No.12s in international cricket
| Runs | Batter | Team | Opposition | Venue | Year | Formats |
| 0* | Shannon Gabriel | West Indies | India | Kingston | 2019 | Men’s Tests |
| 0 | Lungi Ngidi | South Africa | India | Ranchi | 2019 | Men’s Tests |
| 0 | Abu Jayed | Bangladesh | India | Kolkata | 2019 | Men’s Tests |
| 1* | Rajeshwari Gayakwad | India | Australia | Melbourne | 2020 | Women’s T20Is |
| 0* | Ebadot Hossain | Bangladesh | Pakistan | Chattogram | 2021 | Men’s Tests |
| 0* | Josh Little | Ireland | West Indies | Kingston | 2022 | Men’s ODIs |
| 0* | Jayden Seales | West Indies | Australia | Perth | 2022 | Men’s Tests |
| 1* | Fazalhaq Farooqi | Afghanistan | Pakistan | Sharjah | 2023 | Men’s T20Is |
| 4* | Zahir Khan | Afghanistan | Bangladesh | Mirpur | 2023 | Men’s Tests |
| 0* | Henry Ssenyondo | Uganda | Tanzania | Kigali | 2023 | Men’s T20Is |
| 2* | Lindokuhle Mabhero | Zimbabwe | Kenya | Entebbe | 2023 | Women’s T20Is |
| 13* | Sufiyan Muqeem | Pakistan | New Zealand | Hamilton | 2025 | Men’s ODIs |
Highest scores by each batting position in men’s ODIs
While Muqeem got his record, Naseem fell short of the highest score by a No.11 in men’s ODIs. That record still lies with Mohammad Amir (58 against England, Nottingham 2016). These are the only two fifties from that position. Their compatriot Shoaib Akhtar (43 against England, Cape Town 2003) is at third place.
| Position | Score | Batter | Team | Opposition | Ground | Year |
| 1 | 237* | Martin Guptill | New Zealand | West Indies | Wellington | 2015 |
| 2 | 264 | Rohit Sharma | India | Sri Lanka | Kolkata | 2014 |
| 3 | 194* | Charles Coventry | Zimbabwe | Bangladesh | Bulawayo | 2009 |
| 4 | 189* | Viv Richards | West Indies | England | Manchester | 1984 |
| 5 | 174 | Heinrich Klaasen | South Africa | Australia | Centurion | 2023 |
| 6 | 201* | Glenn Maxwell | Australia | Afghanistan | Mumbai | 2023 |
| 7 | 170* | Luke Ronchi | New Zealand | Sri Lanka | Dunedin | 2015 |
| 8 (joint) | 100* | Simi Singh | Ireland | South Africa | Dublin | 2021 |
| 8 (joint) | 100* | Mehidy Hasan Miraz | Bangladesh | India | Mirpur | 2022 |
| 9 | 92* | Andre Russell | West Indies | India | North Sound | 2011 |
| 10 | 86* | Ravi Rampaul | West Indies | India | Visakhapatnam | 2011 |
| 11 | 58 | Mohammad Amir | Pakistan | England | Nottingham | 2016 |
| 12 | 13* | Sufiyan Muqeem | Pakistan | New Zealand | Hamilton | 2025 |
