Mohammad Babar Azam, born on October 15, 1994, in Lahore, Punjab, has emerged as one of the most dominant batsmen in international cricket. His journey from a young cricketer to a global icon is a testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport.
Early Career and Domestic Success
Babar Azam began his cricketing career at a young age, representing Pakistan in the U15 World Championship and U19 World Cups in 2010 and 2012. He showed immense promise, becoming the leading run-scorer for Pakistan in both tournaments.
In 2015, Azam made his international debut in One Day Internationals (ODIs) against Zimbabwe. Although his debut match ended in a no result, he quickly established himself as a reliable batsman for Pakistan. He crossed the 1000 run mark in just 21 innings and became the fastest Pakistani batsman to reach 2000 and 3000 ODI runs.
Azam's breakthrough moment came during the series against the West Indies in 2016. He became the third Pakistani batsman to hit three consecutive ODI centuries, a feat that solidified his position as a top-order batter.
International Success and Captaincy
Babar Azam made his Test debut against the West Indies in 2016 and scored a half-century in the first innings. He continued to impress in all formats of the game, showcasing his skills in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy where Pakistan lifted the trophy.
In 2019, Azam hammered 1092 runs in 20 innings at an average of 60.66 with three hundreds. His highest point came during the World Cup in England, where he emerged as the cornerstone of Pakistan's batting. His match-winning hundred against New Zealand helped Pakistan stay alive in the competition.
Azam's leadership skills were recognized, and he was appointed as the captain of the Pakistan national cricket team across all formats in 2020. Under his captaincy, Pakistan enjoyed success across various tournaments, with Azam continuing to rack up individual milestones.
In 2022, Azam became the first Pakistani skipper to score a hundred against Australia in ODIs. However, his disappointing performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup led to his resignation as captain. Despite this, he was reappointed as the leader in 2024.
Domestic and Franchise Cricket
Babar Azam has also excelled in domestic and franchise cricket. He plays for Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and Somerset in English County Cricket. In the PSL, he was instrumental in leading Karachi Kings to a title win in 2020, scoring 473 runs at an average of 59.12.
Azam has played for various other franchises including Sylhet Sixers and Rangpur Riders in the Bangladesh Premier League, and Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League.
Recent Challenges and Criticisms
Despite his impressive career, Azam has faced criticism recently. During the first Test against England in Multan, he dropped a sitter before Joe Root's double century, leading to widespread criticism on social media.
The internet also blasted him after twin failures in the same series, with some commentators comparing the Multan Highway to Lord's Cricket Ground due to the ease with which England scored runs.
However, Azam remains one of the most respected batsmen in international cricket, known for his elegant strokeplay and consistent performances.
As Pakistan looks to rebuild its cricketing team, Babar Azam's leadership and batting skills will be crucial in guiding the team towards future success.
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