Pakistan Cricket Awards: Babar Azam –Babar Azam will be honored with the prestigious civil award for outstanding contributions to Pakistan’s cricket as a captain and top-performing batter. Ever since making his debut in 2015, the right-hand batter has carried the burden of the team’s batting ably and has managed to shatter one record after another. Now, at the age of 28, Azam will also become the youngest cricketer to receive Sitara-e-Imtiaz, highlighting his remarkable achievements. Follow PAK vs AFG Live Updates with InsideSport.IN.
Earlier, the Government of Pakistan had previously announced Azam getting the Sitara-e-Imtiaz award, and now the date of the ceremony has been confirmed. The Pakistani skipper will receive the prestigious award on Thursday (March 23), which also happens to be Pakistan Day Celebrations. The 28-year-old will be taking a break from cricket to attend the ceremony.
Babar Azam: Azam joins the elite club, becomes only the ninth Pakistani to bag Sitara-e-Imtiaz award
Only eight Pakistani players have been awarded the prestigious Sitara-e-Imtiaz award. Apart from Azam, Mohammad Yousuf in 2011, Saeed Ajmal in 2015, Javed Miandad in 1992, and Inzamam ul Haq in 2005, Younus Khan, Shahid Afridi, Misbah-ul-Haq, & Sarfaraz Ahmed has received the awards for their outstanding contributions to Pakistan cricket.
Before Azam, Sarfaraz became the youngest Pakistani to bag the Sitara-e-Imtiaz award.
PAK vs AFG: Shadab Khan gives a befitting reply to a journalist, says Babar Azam is the captain, and will be our captain
For the unversed, Azam will be skipping the series against Afghanistan. Vice-captain Shadab Khan will lead the side in his absence, When a journalist questioned Shadab on Azam being sacked as captain, the leg-spinner have a befitting reply shutting out all the critics.
“Voh kaptan tha, vahi kaptan jeet gaya. Humara current kaptan wahi hai. Jis tarah, aapko humare chairman sahab ne bataya, wahi current captain hain. Abhi woh rest kar rahe hain, aap logon ko pata bhi chala hoga. Kyunki main uska wazir hun, Badshah humara hai nahi toh wazir jaa raha hai, uske niche (He was the captain, and he won. Babar is still our captain, and our chairman also told you guys that he is the current captain of the team. He is resting, so I have stepped in. It’s just like, When the King is not there, the minister has to step in),” he said.
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