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ICC crowns Babar Azam ODI Player of the Year. For his outstanding performance over the year, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has named Pakistan captain Babar Azam the 2022 ODI Player of the Year.
The 28-year-old batter’s “match-winning knocks, spellbinding stroke-play, and memorable moments from a personal perspective and his team in 2022” have earned him the ICC ODI Player of the Year award for the second consecutive year.
In nine ODI appearances in 2022, Babar scored 679 runs at an average of 84.87, including three hundreds.
The ICC remembered some of Babar’s standout performances and year-long accomplishments.
Babar Azam ODI Player of the Year
A year to remember:
As the “ultra-consistent right-hander maintained his lead” as the top ranked batter on the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings, Babar had an even better year in ODI cricket in 2022 than he had in 2021.
Since July 2021, Babar has clung tenaciously to the title and, based on recent performances, has no plans to relinquish it easy.
It may come as a surprise to learn that the talented batter only participated in nine ODI games in 2022, but she made the most of them by scoring three hundreds, another five half-centuries, and only really struggling with the bat once.
“Babar excelled not just on an individual level; the Pakistan captain also led his team with grace and to just one loss.
Memorable performance
Despite the 28-year-back-to-back old’s excellent ODI performances in 2022, none were as impressive or memorable as the stunning 114 against Australia in Lahore in March.
After losing the first game of the series against an always-tough Australian team, Pakistan needed to win this game more than anything. Babar came through when Pakistan needed him the most, helping his team chase down a huge total of 349 with just four wickets lost and six deliveries remaining.
Before Babar put on a clinic in comprehensive run-chase, openers Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq lay the groundwork with a 118-run stand to get the run chase underway.
Babar came to bat with his team needing 231 from 187 balls and nearly won the game for his side with an outstanding exhibition of shot-making.
He reached his century in just 73 balls, which is the fastest he has ever done in an ODI, and he continued to bat till the 45th over with the winning total in sight.
As Pakistan made their highest-ever successful chase in ODIs, the remaining batters completed the task, thus it was no surprise that their inspiring captain was rightfully voted Player of the Match.
Babar had previously been select the captain of the 2022 ICC ODI Team of the Year.
It should be mention that he served as captain of the 2021 ICC ODI Team of the Year.
