Dubai, 12 April 2022 (TDI): The International Cricket Council (ICC) chose Babar Azam, the Captain of Pakistan’s National Cricket Team, as the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for March 2022.
Following a couple of spectacular batting displays in Pakistan’s multi-format series against Australia, Azam won the Men’s award.
Pakistan’s Babar Azam becomes the first man to win the ICC Player of the Month for a second time 👏https://t.co/mWJjbyT0iV
— ICC (@ICC) April 12, 2022
His extraordinary performance was highlighted by his record-breaking innings of 196 in the second Test, snatching a draw for his side against the odds on a penultimate day in Karachi, amassing 390 runs in the exciting Test series.
Babar Azam was the third-highest run-scorer in the recently concluded Benaud-Qadir Trophy, behind Usman Khawaja and Abdullah Shafique.
He scored 390 runs at an average of 78 in five innings, including two half-centuries and a century. His match-saving 196 in the second innings of the second Test in Karachi was the series’ high point.
His heroics during the ensuing ODI fights that took place in March confirmed his claim as the standout performer in international cricket during the month.
He was a consistent competition to an otherwise powerful bowling attack with scores of 57 and 114, the latter helping his side chase down an imposing 349 set by Australia.
Azam won the title ahead of fellow contenders Kraigg Brathwaite of West Indies and Pat Cummins of Australia, becoming the first player to win the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award twice, after winning it in April 2021 and April 2022.
Daren Ganga, a member of the voting panel, remarked in an official statement regarding Babar’s amazing achievements in March, “Babar wins this award not only because of the significant glut of runs scored during Pakistan versus Australia tournament.
But also because of his success with the bat across formats. Being able to fulfill the burden of expectation as a Captain and batter for Pakistan as host to an Australian team visiting after 24 years is a monumental achievement.”
