He was the one batter in worldwide cricket who managed to cross greater than 2,500 runs in all codecs final 12 months.
Islamabad, Pakistan – Nationwide cricket crew captain Babar Azam turned the second Pakistani participant to win the Worldwide Cricket Council’s (ICC) Sir Garfield Sobers award for cricketer of the 12 months.
Azam additionally bagged the boys’s in the future worldwide (ODI) participant of the 12 months for second 12 months operating for his excellent efficiency within the format.
He was the solely batter in worldwide cricket who managed to cross greater than 2,500 runs in all codecs final 12 months, whereas additionally main the crew to the finals of World T20 in Australia and Asia Cup.
The Pakistani captain scored his runs at a median of 54, with eight centuries throughout codecs.
In a video message, Azam expressed his pleasure at becoming a member of the ranks of a few of the “iconic and revered names” of the sport.
“I proceed to look as much as these gamers in addition to champions of the previous for inspiration, motivation, and enchancment. As cricket is a crew sport, this recognition and achievement wouldn’t have been attainable with out the overwhelming help of my household, crew, followers, and the establishment, to all of whom I’m enormously indebted and grateful,” he mentioned.
Exceptional numbers
Azam, who gained the ODI participant of the 12 months award in 2021 as nicely, stays the world’s prime ODI batter and managed to attain greater than 600 runs in simply 9 matches in 2022.
His take a look at numbers have been outstanding as nicely, as he scored greater than 1,000 runs within the format. Nevertheless, his crew faltered; Pakistan did not win a single take a look at match final 12 months regardless of taking part in eight – all on dwelling soil.
England’s Ben Stokes gained the perfect take a look at participant of the award whereas India’s Suryakumar Yadav captured the T20 participant of the 12 months award.
Stokes, additionally the captain of the English take a look at crew, which is credited with bringing a blazing, aggressive type of cricket within the longest format, had a stellar 12 months.
He scored greater than 800 runs and picked up 26 wickets, all whereas captaining his crew to 9 wins out of 10 matches this 12 months, together with a clear sweep in Pakistan.
Thanking the ICC, the jury and the followers for the award, Stokes mentioned it was right down to his teammates and administration.
“We’re having fun with our cricket and love having enjoyable wherever we play. The way in which through which we strategy Check cricket is to excite the followers and making it a spectacle for everybody to get behind and revel in whatever the end result for England,” he mentioned in a video message.
India’s Yadav had a outstanding 12 months the place he scored greater than 1,100 runs within the shortest and probably the most frantic format, at an unbelievable strike price of greater than 187.
He scored two centuries and 9 half-centuries in 2022 within the format, together with 68 sixes, probably the most by any particular person in a 12 months.