Babar Azam
Babar Azam – the captain of the Pakistan national cricket team
Babar Azam is one of Pakistan’s most talented all-round cricketers, playing primarily as a top-order batter and formerly serving as captain of the national team. Under his leadership, Pakistan secured a number of high-profile victories. In this article, we take a closer look at the career and life of this outstanding athlete.
Babar Azam: how a professional cricket career was built
Born on October 15, 1994, in Lahore, Babar Azam grew up in an environment deeply connected to cricket. His early inspiration came from his cousins, Kamran and Umar Akmal, both of whom represented Pakistan internationally. Their influence played a decisive role in shaping his ambitions. After progressing through age-group cricket and training at the National Cricket Academy, Babar delivered standout performances at the ICC Under-19 World Cups in 2010 and 2012. On both occasions, he finished as the tournament’s highest run-scorer, a rare achievement that positioned him as a future mainstay of the senior national team.
Babar made his One Day International debut in 2015 against Zimbabwe and announced his arrival immediately with a fluent half-century, scoring 54 runs from 60 balls. His calm temperament and refined stroke play drew widespread attention and quickly established him as one of Pakistan’s brightest batting prospects, opening the door to opportunities in all formats of the game.
The following year marked a significant expansion of his international career. Babar Azam appeared in his first T20 International against the West Indies on September 7, 2016, before earning his Test cap against England on October 13. That Test proved historic, as Babar became the first player to score a fifty in a debut day-night Test match. From then on, his rise in international cricket was rapid and consistent.
Some of the most notable highlights of his career include:
- Receiving the Pakistan Cricket Board’s ODI Player of the Year award in 2017.
- Winning Player of the Match honors at the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup.
- Leading Central Punjab to the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy title in 2020.
- Reaching the top position in the ICC ODI batting rankings in 2021.
- Recording five consecutive international centuries in the UAE, a rare global feat.
- Surpassing 3,000 ODI runs in only 68 innings.
- Becoming the second-fastest Pakistani to reach 1,000 ODI runs.
- Being honored with Pakistan’s Pride of Performance award on March 23, 2023.
- Selection to the ICC Men’s T20I Team of the Year in 2024.
In late 2023, Babar resigned as captain of the national team during a period of administrative upheaval following Pakistan’s underwhelming World Cup performance. Despite this, his leadership record remains one of the strongest in the country’s cricketing history, making him the most successful Pakistan captain across formats since Imran Khan.
Beyond international cricket, Babar Azam has been actively involved in domestic and franchise leagues around the world. He has represented numerous regional and professional teams and is currently contracted to the Sydney Sixers for the KFC Big Bash League (BBL|15). At the international level, he continues to be a key figure in Pakistan’s batting lineup.
Babar Azam: Personal Life, Controversies and Interesting Facts
Babar maintains a low public profile when it comes to his private life. He was raised in a Muslim household and is the eldest of three siblings. His mother managed the household, while his father operated a watch repair business. He completed his higher education at the University of the Punjab. Unmarried, Babar often addresses the topic lightheartedly in interviews.
“Right now, I’m in a relationship with my career.”
In 2020, allegations surfaced from a woman named Hamiza Mukhtar, who accused Babar of financial misconduct, deceptive marriage promises, coercion and harassment. The claims resulted in police reports and legal proceedings. However, after approximately one year, the accuser formally withdrew her statements, acknowledging that the allegations were false. Despite this development, certain legal aspects of the case remain unresolved.
Interesting Facts About the Athlete:
- Full name: Mohammad Babar Azam;
- Nickname: Bobby;
- Favorite players: batter AB de Villiers and fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar;
- Independent estimates value the player at approximately $4-5 million;
- Since childhood, Azam has also been keen on golf, but chose cricket as his professional path; today, he enjoys playing golf in his spare time;
- Babar is a car enthusiast and owns vehicles from several well-known brands, including Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Honda.
| Format | Matches | Runs | Bat Avg | Top Score | Balls | Wickets | Bowl Avg | Best Bowl | Catches |
| Test | 61 | 4366 | 42,4 | 196 | 7908 | 2 | 21 | 1/1 | 60 |
| ODI | 134 | 6501 | 53,7 | 158 | 7458 | 0 | – | – | 16 |
| T20I | 128 | 4429 | 39,5 | 122 | 3448 | 0 | – | – | 24 |
| FC | 97 | 6418 | 42,1 | 266 | 11488 | 7 | 66,57 | 1/1 | 6 |
