Numerous wonderful cricketers have emerged and passed away in international cricket, but there are certain players who style, technique and temperament distinguish them from the remaining lot. The current superstar of the Pakistan cricket team, Babar, is among these names. His batting fluency, shot accuracy, and domineering style of captaincy make him one of the leading batsmen of the present era.

Let’s take a detailed look at Babar’s life, struggles, cricket career and his unparalleled records.

Early Life – The Talented Boy of Lahore

Babar Azam was born on 15th October 1994 in a middle-class family in Lahore. He is from a family where cricket passion was hereditary. Babar Azam is the cousin of ex-Pakistani cricketers Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal. Babar, who opened his eyes in the cricket world, was interested in batting since his childhood.

He used to play street cricket as a kid, and before long, his family began to realize his potential. He was trained in his early days of cricket by different cricket clubs in Lahore, where the coaches were impressed by his dedication, hard work and talent.

Balancing education and cricket

Babar attempted to merge education and cricket together, but his talent in cricket placed him on another track very quickly. Though he was not able to have a full education, he always believed in valuing knowledge. Despite his engagement in cricket, he was busy trying to make himself a better person.

From Under-15 and Under-19 to the national team

Babar Azam’s journey started with the Under-15 team. He represented Pakistan’s Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 teams. His batting especially caught everyone’s attention in the Under-19 World Cups of 2010 and 2012.

He performed brilliantly as an opener in the Under-19 team, and later made his presence felt in domestic cricket as well. His playing style, patience, and technique were his prominent features.

 International Cricket Debut

ODI Debut – 2015

Babar Azam made his ODI debut on 31 May 2015 against Zimbabwe. Although he did not play a big innings in this match, it was clear from his style that Pakistan had found a new stylish batsman.

Test Debut – 2016

Babar played his first Test match on 13 October 2016 against the West Indies in Dubai. After that he soon established himself in the five-day format and established a strong position in the middle order.

T20 Debut – 2016

Babar Azam also made his T20 debut in 2016, and in this format too, he consistently performed and established himself among the top batsmen.

 

 Records and Achievements

Babar Azam’s cricket career includes a number of records and accomplishments:

ODI Records:

• Fastest Pakistani batsman to complete 1000, 2000 and 3000 runs
• Most centuries scored by a Pakistani batsman in a calendar year
• Remained number 1 in the ODI rankings several times

Test Records:

• Played important innings in difficult conditions, especially against Australia, Sri Lanka and New Zealand
• Turned Pakistan’s defeat into victory in several matches

T20 Records:

• Most runs scored by a Pakistani player
• Remained among the world’s top 5 batsmen several times
• The combination of Babar and Rizwan is one of the greatest opening combinations in the world

 

Batting style and Talent

Babar Azam’s batting style beautifully combines both modern techniques and classic fundamentals. His ability to play the ball, along with his footwork and choice of strokes, is truly top-notch. He’s especially famous for his cover drive, which has really become his trademark shot.

Not only does Babar make runs at a high speed, but he also scores runs under pressure. His relaxed attitude and interest in the game reflect his nature.

Captaincy Journey

Babar Azam took the reins as the captain of the Pakistan cricket team back in 2019. After that he began by captaining the T20 side, and then transitioned smoothly to lead the ODI team, and later he also led the Test team.

Notable achievements as captain:

• Historical triumph over India in the T20 World Cup 2021
• Beating the 2022 Asia Cup final
• Success in most series, especially against the West Indies, Zimbabwe and South Africa

Babar is a quiet leader, who leads the team by example. During his tenure, the team culture was good, and a number of young players received opportunities.

Personality and private life

Babar Azam has a humble and ethical personality. He speaks little in the media, but always adopts a balanced attitude. His simplicity, humility and hard work make him stand out from others.

Babar is an unflustered leader who leads from the front. Under his tenure, the team culture was good and opportunities were offered to many youngsters. The team culture was good during his term, and some young players received opportunities.

Confronting criticism and reacting

As with every good player, Babar Azam too has been blamed many times. Particularly his strike rate, captaincy choices, or inability in some crucial games have been questioned.

Global recognition

Babar Azam is appreciated not only in Pakistan but all over the world. He has won several ICC awards, and his name is also respected in India, England, and Australia. His batting videos are viewed millions of times on social media.

 Honours and Awards

• ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year (2021, 2022)
• PCB Player of the Year
• Most Followed Cricketer in Pakistan
• Numerous domestic and international honours

Babar Azam’s future

Babar Azam is at the peak of his career. His age, fitness and form indicate that he is going to play for Pakistan for many years to come. Now he has become an inspiration to the young generation of players, and his presence is a plus point for the team.

Conclusion – The Making of a Legend

Babar Azam’s life makes us learn that hard work, dedication, integrity and courage can make an ordinary man an extraordinary one. He is not just a batsman but a representative of Pakistan cricket today.

His personality, technique, performance and leadership have taken him to a level where he will be spoken of as Babar Azam – the Legend of Pakistan Cricket in the years to come.