ICC crowns Babar as ODI Cricketer of the Year

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam was named ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year today by the International Cricket Council (ICC) following his exploits in 2021.

Boasting an average of 67.50, Babar scored 405 runs in six games during the previous calendar year. The 27-year-old was the second-highest 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 chief 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.

Babar's best performance of the year came while fighting for a losing cause in the final ODI against England where he struck his second ODI century of the year. The right-hander was the lone warrior for Pakistan as they were whitewashed by England 3-0. Babar accumulated 177 runs in three games but found little support as the other Pakistan batters managed to score no more than 100 runs in that series.