Babar Azam wins ICC men’s player of the month

DUBAI: Pakistan’s cricket captain Babar Azam has secured the prestigious International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Player of the Month award for the third time, with his outstanding performance throughout August 2023.

Babar Azam’s strong performance in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings secured him the award. He won over his teammate Shadab Khan and West Indies’ Nicholas Pooran in a competitive contest.

Upon receiving the honour, Babar expressed by saying: “The past month has been extraordinary for my team as we have put on some terrific performances. With the Asia Cup returning to Pakistan after such a long time, it was a fantastic experience to play in front of passionate cricket-loving crowds in Multan and Lahore. My second ODI score of 150-plus in Multan added to the joy.”

Congratulations @babarazam258 on being named the ICC Men's Player of the Month for August 2023! 🏆 https://t.co/bN8Ve0ufAV pic.twitter.com/G5XdhsfW6F

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 12, 2023

Meanwhile, he also looked forward to continuing his form in the upcoming cricket events, stating, “I am looking forward to making the most of my form as we head into an exciting phase of cricket with the Asia Cup’s backend nearing and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup just around the corner. My team and I are eager to bring joy and happiness to the millions of Pakistan fans.”

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Babar Azam’s outstanding cricket skills shone, especially in the Asian subcontinent where he performed excellently in the 50-over games.

Although he faced a rare setback in the first ODI against Afghanistan during a series in Sri Lanka, Babar quickly bounced back, showing his determination with two consecutive fifties. The most memorable moment was in the second ODI when he and Imam-ul-Haq created a crucial 118-run partnership, setting up an exciting last-over contest.

Babar contributed 53 runs in the chase, well-supported by Imam’s 91 runs and the lower-order batsmen. Pakistan secured a thrilling victory with just one ball and one wicket remaining.

Continuing his outstanding performance, Babar Azam added another crucial 60 runs in the final ODI, helping his team reach a commendable total of 268/8. Pakistan’s bowlers also performed admirably, securing a comfortable 59-run victory and completing a clean sweep with a 3-0 series win.

Babar Azam continued to play really well even after the series. In the first game of the Asia Cup against Nepal, he did an amazing job, scoring 151 runs from 131 balls.

In this match, Babar Azam made history by becoming the fastest player ever to reach 19 centuries in One Day International (ODI) cricket.