Babar Azam: Pakistan Captain, Ranked Number One in All Three Formats Simultaneously in 2022
Babar Azam is a Pakistani batsman born on 15 October 1994 in Lahore. He became the number one ranked batter in all three formats (Tests, ODIs, T20Is) simultaneously in 2022 — a feat previously achieved only by Virat Kohli in 2016. In ODIs he averaged over 57 and scored 19+ centuries. In T20Is he was consistently the top-ranked batter in the ICC rankings. He served as Pakistan's captain across all formats at various points from 2019 to 2023 (when he temporarily resigned). He was named ICC Men's ODI Cricketer of the Year in 2021 and ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year in 2022. He is widely regarded as Pakistan's greatest batsman since Inzamam-ul-Haq and one of the best batters of his generation globally.
Babar Azam was born on 15 October 1994 in Lahore. He made his T20I debut for Pakistan in August 2016 against England and his Test debut in October 2016 against the West Indies in Dubai. A right-hand batsman batting at number 3 in Tests and at the top of the order in white-ball cricket, Babar combines classical technique with the ability to accelerate in T20 cricket. He scored his first Test century — 101 against England at Lord's in 2018 — in only his seventh Test. By 2019, he was batting consistently across all three formats and was appointed Pakistan's T20I captain.
Number One in All Three Formats
In August 2022, Babar Azam became the number one ranked batter in the ICC rankings in all three formats simultaneously — Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. He was only the second player in history to achieve this (Virat Kohli was the first, in 2016). By this point, Babar's ODI average had climbed above 57 with 19+ centuries — statistics that placed him alongside the best ODI batters of the modern era. He was named ICC Men's ODI Cricketer of the Year for 2021 and ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year for 2022. He had also been Pakistan's captain across all formats since 2019, though he temporarily stepped down after poor form and tournament exits in late 2023.
Batting Style and Career Context
Babar's batting style is often compared to the classical school — upright, balanced, minimal movement before the ball is bowled, exceptional timing and placement through the off side. He rarely takes aerial risks unnecessarily but can accelerate in the closing overs of T20s and ODIs when required. His technique in Tests has drawn comparison with Virat Kohli and Joe Root in terms of the consistency of his method. Critics in Pakistan have at times argued his scoring rate in T20 cricket is too conservative for the demands of the format; supporters point to his average and his ability to set up winning platforms. He remains Pakistan's most consistent batter across all formats.
Frequently asked questions
What record did Babar Azam achieve in 2022 in ICC rankings?
In August 2022, Babar Azam became the number one ranked batter in all three ICC formats (Tests, ODIs, and T20Is) simultaneously — only the second player in cricket history to achieve this feat. Virat Kohli was the only other player to have done so, in 2016. Babar was also named ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year for 2022.
What is Babar Azam's ODI batting record?
Babar Azam has an ODI batting average of over 57 with 19+ centuries — one of the highest averages and highest century counts among active ODI batters. His record in ODIs places him alongside Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and AB de Villiers as the best ODI batters of their generation. He was named ICC Men's ODI Cricketer of the Year for 2021.