Opening batsman Hafeez, who is now banned from bowling in global cricket, was hurt before Saturday’s second ODI at Lord’s, which England won by four wickets to take a 2-0 series lead.
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But Ahmed, as he’d often done during the preceding 2-2 drawn Test series, frustrated England with a mixture of orthodox and improvised shots.
Mark Wood and Chris Woakes took three wickets each.
The fifth-wicket pair handled Rashid and Moeen Ali well, Shoaib lifting the latter for the first six of the day in the 21st over.
After a couple of early stumbles in their reply, a third-wicket partnership of 112 between Root and England captain Eoin Morgan (68) effectively put the result beyond doubt.
Left-hander Morgan’s knock on his Middlesex home ground ended a run of 23 global innings without a fifty for the former Ireland star.
Root collided heavily with his Yorkshire team-mate in the Lord’s outfield as both men converged on a catch in the deep during the tourists’ innings of 251 all out.
“Fair play to Sarfraz, he played brilliantly but throughout we stuck at it with the ball”, said Root.
Azhar Ali chose to bat first on a green-tinged strip, a decision welcomed by Eoin Morgan.
“He’s got such a cool and calm head”.
“He seems to be playing on a different wicket to everyone else at the moment”.
England’s star batsman had little time to rest, with the number three out in the middle again after opener Jason Roy’s second-ball duck.
A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman announced that fast bowler Mohammad Irfan will join the Pakistan squad in England as Hafeez’s replacement.
“The guys worked hard and kept fighting, and Sarfraz’s hundred was one of the best innings I’ve seen from him”, Azhar said.
“We could have made 300 on this pitch, but after losing those three wickets, we’d have taken 250”.
Alex Hales’ poor recent form continued as he too was bowled attempting a slog-sweep to spinner Imad to leave the home side vulnerable at 35-2.
Pakistan were now 66 for four.
Joe Root made 89 as England, set 252 to win, finished on 255 for six with 15 balls to spare.
If Sami Aslam could count himself slightly unfortunate to be given out caught behind down the leg side – the on-field umpire, Marais Erasmus, originally gave him not out, but the TV umpire, Simon Fry overruled on the basis of a spike in the snickometer even though there was no hot-spot – the other two batsmen were the recipients of fine deliveries.
Earlier, Woakes and Wood destroyed Pakistan’s top order after captain Azhar Ali won the toss and opted to bat.
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Babar Azam was his first foil, playing fluently for 30 before Liam Plunkett’s brisk yorker dislodged a bail via bat and boot.
