Hashim Mohammed Amla OIS (born 31 March 1983) is a former South African international cricketer who played for South Africa in all three formats of the game. He is regarded as one of the greatest opening batsmen of all time . Amla currently holds the record for being the fastest ever to 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000 and 7000 ODI runs. He also became the fastest cricketer to reach 10 ODI centuries. Amla is an occasional off break bowler and was South Africa's Test captain from June 2014 to January 2016.
He is a right-handed batsman and holds the record for the highest individual Test score of any South African batsman of 311 not out, scored against England at The Oval, London in July 2012.
In 2014, he became the fastest cricketer to reach 15 centuries in ODIs in his 86th innings. In the same year he became the fastest cricketer to reach 16 centuries in ODIs in his 94th inning and fastest cricketer to 17 centuries in ODIs in his 98th innings. On 18 January 2015, he became the fastest cricketer to score 18 centuries in ODIs in his 102nd innings. On 3 March 2015, he became the fastest cricketer to reach 20 centuries in ODIs in his 108th innings.