Babar Azam – the star player of Pakistan!

Match-winning performances, spellbinding stroke-play, and memorable moments. The recipient of the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year Award had a year to remember in 2021. Here, we take a look back at his performances throughout the year and honor some of his notable accomplishments.

Babar Azam may have only played six One-Day Internationals in 2021. However, he was important and crucial in both of Pakistan’s series this year.

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Player of the match

With 228 runs, he was Pakistan’s second-highest run-scorer. Moreover, Babar Azam was named Player of the Match in both of Pakistan’s victories in the 2-1 series victory over South Africa. Babar made a century and built the foundation with an 82-ball 94 in the last ODI. Where the visitors produced 320 batting first, architecting Pakistan’s chase of 274 in the first ODI.

When Pakistan was crushed 3-0 by England, he was their lone warrior. He scored 177 runs in three games but received no help from the other batters. They failed to score more than 100 runs throughout the series.

Babar Azam, an exceptional performer

Azam’s greatest performance this year came in the final ODI against England, which he lost. Pakistan was fighting for pride as well as precious ICC Cricket World Cup Super League points in the third ODI at Birmingham, with the series already lost. Pakistan batted first and scored 331 runs, with Babar scoring nearly half of the team’s runs.

Babar came in to bat early in the innings and put on a 92-run stand with Imam-ul-Haq to save Pakistan. Initially, he was conservative in his approach, reaching his half-century in 72 balls. He made amends by scoring the following fifty runs in just 32 balls, his second ODI century of the season.

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He burst in the final overs and almost batted his way through the innings, being dismissed for 158 in the last over, his highest-ever ODI score.

Unfortunately for Pakistan, England brought down the score with two overs to spare thanks to a brilliant 129-run sixth-wicket stand between James Vince and Lewis Gregory.

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Babar Azam became the audience’s favorite thanks to his fantastic game and spectacular performance, and he made us all proud throughout the year 2021 and continues to do so.

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