Babar Azam reacts to ICC award

Pakistan captain Babar Azam said that he was really proud of being named as the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year.

His reaction came a day after the world cricket body announced that Babar had bagged the top annual award.

Taking to Twitter on Tuesday, Babar Azam wrote: “Really proud to be named as ICC ODI Cricketer of the year 2021.”

The opener also thanked his family and fans for the support.

“I am thankful to Almighty, my family, friends and fans who always push me to do better with all their love and trust. I’ll try to keep on giving my best and make you all proud. Thank you once again, much love.”

Really proud to be named as ICC ODI Cricketer of the year 2021.

I am thankful to Almighty, my family, friends and fans who always push me to do better with all their love and trust.

I'll try to keep on giving my best and make you all proud. Thank you once again, much love. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/ceIUCJNwxq

— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) January 25, 2022

Babar Azam might have played only six ODis in 2021, but he made vital contributions in the two series that Pakistan played this year.

He was the second-highest run-scorer with 228 runs and was the Player of the Match in both of Pakistan’s wins in the 2-1 series victory against South Africa.

The architect of Pakistan’s chase of 274 in the first ODI, Babar made a century and laid the foundation with an 82-ball 94 in the final ODI where the visitors posted 320 batting first.

He was the lone warrior for Pakistan when they were swept by England 3-0. He accumulated 177 runs in three games but found no support none of the other batters managed to score more than 100 in the series.

Azam’s best performance this year came in a losing cause in the final ODI against England.

With the series already lost, Pakistan were playing for pride as well as crucial ICC Cricket World Cup Super League points in the third ODI at Birmingham. Put in to bat first, Pakistan posted 331, with Babar scoring close to half of the team’s runs.

Walking in to bat early in the innings, Babar strung a 92-run stand with Imam-ul-Haq to bail Pakistan out of trouble. He was cautious in his approach initially, bringing up his half-century in 72 balls. He made up for it by bringing up the next fifty runs in just 32 balls – it was his second ODI century of the year.

With the milestone out of the way, he exploded in the death overs and almost batted through the innings, getting out in the last over for 158, his highest-ever ODI score.

Unfortunately for Pakistan, James Vince and Lewis Gregory stole the show with a stunning 129-run stand for the sixth wicket as England chased the total down with two overs to spare.