Babar Azam reaches career best T20 ranking
The spectacular start of Babar Azam�s international career has been given an additional boost as he jumps 21 spots up to reach his career�s highest position in the latest ICC T20 International Player Rankings. Photo: AFP
(Web Desk) - Babar Azam, the leading run-scorer in the Independence Cup – 179 runs in three innings, has been labeled the 6th best T20 batsman by the ICC.
The 22-year-old Azam who set the tone for Pakistan’s win in the first Twenty20 of the series was awarded Player of the Match award, honouring him for his swift 86 off 52 balls that included 10 boundaries and two sixes.
According to cricket.com.au, Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed who led the team to a 2-1 victory against the World XI in Lahore, pleased by Babar s contribution said: "It was a historic occasion and I thank the crowd for coming in good numbers. It was a very important match and I think no praise is too high for our players, especially (Babar) Azam."
Being a ‘force of nature’ against the white coloured ball, the modish right-handed batsman also holds the fifth position in ICC’s ODI batting rankings.
Babar averages 53.88 with five centuries in 31 one day internationals (ODIs), while he averages 54 from 11 innings in the T20 format of the game.
On the back of their 2-1 series win in Lahore and England s loss to the West Indies in their one-off T20 at Chester-le-Street, Pakistan has moved to the second place in the team rankings – just four points shy of the first, New Zealand.
