Today in Cricket, Sportsin24x7.com will talk about the star batter of the Pakistan Cricket Team Babar Azam. Today Babar Azam is celebrating his 30th Birthday and it will be interesting to see his career growth and how Babar made it so big in Cricket World.
Born and Early Life
Mohammad Babar Azam was born on 15 October 1994, hailing from a Punjabi Muslim family in the Walled City of Lahore, Babar was drawn to cricket from a young age, thanks to his cousins, Kamran and Umar Akmal, who were already playing for Pakistan. Their success stories motivated him to pursue cricket as a career.
As a child, Babar spent time as a ball boy at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, where he got to watch his cricketing heroes up close. His passion for the game grew, and he soon joined a cricket academy where his coach, Rana Sadiq, helped him learn the basics of batting. His hard work paid off when he was selected to play for Pakistan’s U-19 team.
Early Career and Rise in International Cricket
Babar Azam made his debut for the Pakistan cricket team in May 2015 during a One Day International (ODI) series against Zimbabwe. In his debut match, he scored an impressive 54 runs, which helped him secure a permanent spot in the team. Over the next few years, Babar continued to improve his game, establishing himself as one of Pakistan’s most reliable top-order batters.
In the 2016 tour of New Zealand, Babar proved his worth by scoring 145 runs in just 2 innings, making him the highest run-scorer in that series for Pakistan. His consistent performances earned him a place in both the ODI and T20 teams, and soon, he was recognized as one of the most promising talents in world cricket.
In 2017, Babar played a key role in Pakistan’s victory in the ICC Champions Trophy, a historic moment for the team. By this time, he had already started setting records. He became the third-fastest Pakistani to reach 1000 runs in ODI cricket and was praised for his stylish batting and ability to handle pressure.
Achievements and Awards
Babar Azam’s cricketing journey is filled with numerous records and achievements. He holds the record for being the fastest player to score 5000 runs in ODI cricket, achieving this in just 97 innings, surpassing some of the greatest cricketers in history. He is also the fastest captain to score 1000 runs in ODIs, reaching the milestone in just 13 innings.
He is the only cricketer in history to score three consecutive centuries twice in ODI cricket. Babar’s incredible performances earned him the nickname “King Babar,” and cricket analysts often refer to him as the “undisputed king” of the ODI format.
In 2022, Babar was awarded the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC Cricketer of the Year and was named the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year. His consistent performances in both Tests and limited-overs cricket have made him a vital part of Pakistan’s success.
One of the most prestigious moments in Babar’s life came in 2023, when he was honored with the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, Pakistan’s third-highest civilian award. At just 28 years old, he became the youngest cricketer ever to receive this prestigious award.
T20 Success
In T20 Internationals (T20Is), Babar is Pakistan’s leading run-scorer. In June 2024, he became the highest run-scorer of all time in T20Is, during a match against the United States in the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
In the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Babar has been a standout performer. He has been the top run-scorer in multiple seasons, including 2020 and 2021, and currently holds the record as the league’s all-time leading run-scorer. He captains Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL, showing his leadership abilities in domestic cricket as well.
Awards and Achievements of Babar Azam
- 2017:
- Named in the ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Year 2017.
- Awarded PCB’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2017.
- 2018:
- Awarded PCB’s T20I Cricketer of the Year 2017.
- 2019:
- Named in the ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Year 2019.
- 2020:
- Named the 2020 Pakistan Super League Player of the Tournament.
- Awarded ARY News Person of the Year 2020.
- 2021:
- Named ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2021.
- Appointed as captain of the ICC Men’s T20I Team of the Year 2021.
- Appointed as captain of the ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Year 2021.
- Named captain of the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Team of the Tournament.
- Won ICC Player of the Month for April 2021.
- Awarded PCB’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2021.
- 2022:
- Named ICC Cricketer of the Year (Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy) 2022.
- Named ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2022.
- Appointed as captain of the ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Year 2022.
- Named in the ICC Men’s Test Team of the Year 2022.
- Won ICC Player of the Month for March 2022.
- 2023:
- Awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, Pakistan’s third-highest civilian award, on 23 March 2023.
- Became the youngest cricketer ever to receive the prestigious Sitara-i-Imtiaz at the age of 28.
