Cricket fraternity congratulates Babar Azam for bagging ICC awards

The 28-year-old was the only player to breach the 2000-run mark during the calendar year across all formats

PHOTO: AFP

Cricketers and sports analysts from around the world showered praise on Pakistan skipper, Babar Azam, for winning the Sir Garfield Sobers trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year as well as the ODI Cricketer of the Year award.

Babar was the only player to breach the 2000-run mark during the calendar year across all formats, and he did it in style as he broke past that milestone in style while amassing a whopping 2598 runs at an imposing average of 54.12.

The 28-year-old is often referred to as ‘King’ by his Pakistan teammates. Pacer Haris Rauf and all-rounder Shadab Khan were not surprised by their skipper bagging the aforementioned awards.

Never any doubt. 👑 @babarazam258 👑 pic.twitter.com/U4dZga0tKE
— Shadab Khan (@76Shadabkhan) January 26, 2023

Absolutely proud of you Kaptaan Babar Azam. You deserve all the rewards and accolades. Wish you the best in every aspect of life. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/HUaylDdhe9
— Shaheen Shah Afridi (@iShaheenAfridi) January 26, 2023

Once a king, always a king 👑 @babarazam258 pic.twitter.com/G8DiPCcvrS
— Haris Rauf (@HarisRauf14) January 26, 2023

What a day for Pakistan Cricket. Many many congratulations to @babarazam258 for winning two prestigious ICC awards 🏆 pic.twitter.com/GVTg1v5Yev
— Muhammad Nawaz (@mnawaz94) January 26, 2023

We proud of you @babarazam258 you are inspiration for all cricketers pic.twitter.com/l8wanj9Ccl
— Khurram Manzoor Khan (@_khurrammanzoor) January 26, 2023

Proud of you Skipper ❤️👏 pic.twitter.com/afsktvhvB7
— Shahnawaz Dahani (@ShahnawazDahani) January 26, 2023

Kaptaaana @babarazam258, tumhari tareef k liye lafz khatam hogaye. The best in the world. 🤲🙌 https://t.co/Q1eBBnxkYE
— Muhammad Rizwan (@iMRizwanPak) January 26, 2023

Former Pakistan cricketers, usually critical of Babar, also couldn’t hold back in praising the right-hand batsman. Before Babar, no other Pakistan cricketer had won the ICC ODI cricketer of the year award.

“It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.” – Babe Ruth@babarazam258 pic.twitter.com/TFcuIIQdEv
— Rashid Latif | 🇵🇰 (@iRashidLatif68) January 26, 2023

Well Deserved 👑 Congratulations @babarazam258 #BabarAzam𓃵 #ODI pic.twitter.com/MWjeCVpS2a
— Saeed Ajmal (@REALsaeedajmal) January 26, 2023

Congratulations brother #BabarAzam𓃵 pic.twitter.com/h6h5otOckk
— Muhammad Asif (Swing king) (@MuhammadAsif26_) January 26, 2023

King is always king congratulations skipper @babarazam258 Bhaii❤️🙌#BabarAzam𓃵 pic.twitter.com/ytIo5iB7ME
— Mohammad Wasim Jr (@Wasim_Jnr) January 26, 2023

In a league of his own!@TheRealPCB @babarazam258 #BabarAzam𓃵 #ICCAwards @ICC pic.twitter.com/D8n0aAd3w7
— Urooj Mumtaz Khan (@uroojmumtazkhan) January 26, 2023

PCB management committee chairman, Najam Sethi, also took to Twitter, to congratulate the Pakistan all-format captain.

What great news! Wah ji Wah! Congratulations @babarazam258 You make us proud!
— Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) January 26, 2023

Well done @babarazam258 on both your ICC awards..
— Mickey Arthur (@Mickeyarthurcr1) January 26, 2023

Babar also received congratulatory message from across the border, as renowned sports journalist, Vikrant Gupta, commended Babar for being deserving of the accolade.