Pakistan’s Babar Azam gets prestigious ICC Men’s Player of the Month award for the third time

Pakistan’s cricketing maestro, Babar Azam, continues to shine on the international stage, clinching the prestigious ICC Men’s Player of the Month award for the third time, an honor he secured for his exceptional performances throughout August 2023.

Babar Azam, who currently occupies the pinnacle of the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings, delivered an outstanding display of his batting prowess, earning him accolades from cricket enthusiasts worldwide.

Expressing his delight, the Pakistan skipper stated, “I am delighted to be named ICC Player of the Month for August 2023. The past month has been extraordinary for my team and me as we have put on some terrific performances. With the Asia Cup returning to Pakistan after such a long time, it was great to play in front of the passionate and cricket-loving crowds of Multan and Lahore. Scoring my second ODI score of 150-plus in front of my own people in Multan doubled the joy.”

Babar’s rich vein of form was evident in his remarkable performances throughout August. During the ODI series against Afghanistan, he showcased his resilience by bouncing back after a rare setback in the first match, where he failed to score. In the subsequent two ODIs, Babar struck two consecutive fifties, including a crucial 53 runs in partnership with Imam-ul-Haq, which paved the way for an exhilarating last-over showdown. Pakistan secured a nail-biting victory, sealing the series 3-0.

The prolific batsman didn’t stop there; he replicated his form in the Asia Cup opener against Nepal, delivering a stunning performance by scoring an impressive 151 runs off 131 balls. During this remarkable innings, Babar Azam achieved a historic milestone by becoming the fastest player in cricket history to reach 19 ODI centuries. This century also marked his 31st across all formats for Pakistan, placing him in esteemed company alongside legends like Javed Miandad and Saeed Anwar.

Looking ahead, Babar Azam is eager to continue his exceptional form as Pakistan gears up for the exciting phase of cricket, with the Asia Cup Super Four in progress and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup on the horizon. He expressed his commitment to bring joy and happiness to the millions of Pakistan fans who passionately support their team.