Babar Azam has secured the ICC Men's Player of the Month award for August 2023, marking his third time winning this prestigious accolade.
Maintaining his top rank in the ICC Men's ODI Player Rankings, Babar Azam continued to showcase his outstanding cricketing prowess throughout the past month, ultimately earning him the title of ICC Men's Player of the Month for August 2023.
Babar outshone his teammate Shadab Khan and the West Indies' powerful batter Nicholas Pooran, firmly establishing his place as a cricketing sensation. The Pakistan captain expressed his elation upon receiving the honor, saying, "I am delighted to be named ICC Player of the Month for August 2023," Babar said.
"The past month has been extraordinary for my team and I as we have put some terrific performances. With the Asia Cup coming 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. That I scored my second ODI score of 150-plus in front of my own people in Multan doubled the joy.
"I am looking forward to making the most of the form as we head into an exciting phase of cricket with the backend of the Asia Cup nearing and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup around the corner. My team and I are eager to bring joy and happiness to the millions of Pakistan fans."
Babar's exceptional form was particularly evident during his remarkable month in the Asian sub-continent, where he displayed his cricketing prowess in the 50-over format.
In the initial ODI against Afghanistan in a bilateral series in Sri Lanka, Babar faced a rare setback, failing to open his account with any runs. However, he swiftly rebounded, showcasing his resilience with back-to-back fifties. The pinnacle of his performance came during the second ODI when Babar, alongside Imam-ul-Haq, forged a pivotal 118-run partnership, setting the stage for an exhilarating last-over showdown.
During the run-chase, Babar contributed 53 runs, well-complemented by Imam's impressive 91 runs and the lower-order batsmen. Pakistan secured a thrilling victory with a solitary ball and wicket to spare.
He followed this up with another crucial innings of 60 runs, significantly contributing to Pakistan's commendable total of 268/8 in the final ODI. Pakistan's bowlers then delivered a standout performance, securing a comfortable 59-run victory to claim a resounding 3-0 series win.
Babar's exceptional form extended into the ongoing Asia Cup. In the tournament opener against Nepal, he delivered a stunning performance, amassing 151 runs off just 131 balls.
During this innings, the Pakistan skipper reached a historic milestone by becoming the fastest player in the game's history to achieve 19 ODI centuries. This century marked his 31st century across all formats for Pakistan, placing him on par with cricketing legends Javed Miandad and Saeed Anwar. He now stands just behind Younis Khan (41), Mohammad Yousuf (39), and Inzamam-ul-Haq (35) in terms of centuries for Pakistan.
- Babar Azam
