Who is Babar Azam?
Babar Azam is a Pakistani cricketer and Pakistan’s Test captain, having previously led the side in all three formats. A stylish right-handed top-order batter, he has been one of the world’s highest-ranked batters and captains Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League.
Early life and background
Babar was born in 1994 into a family from the Walled City of Lahore. His older cousins Kamran and Umar Akmal, both Pakistan internationals, inspired him to take up cricket as a career.
Career highlights
- International debut (2015): scored 54 on his ODI debut against Zimbabwe.
- First century (2016): 120 against the West Indies, then a record 360 runs in a three-match ODI series.
- Test debut (2016): scored 69 against the West Indies in Dubai.
- 2017 Champions Trophy: part of the Pakistan team that won the title.
- Captaincy: went on to lead Pakistan in all three formats.
Major achievements
Babar became one of the fastest players to reach 1,000 ODI runs and was the first batter in ODI history to score five consecutive centuries in one country. He has also held the number one ICC ranking as an ODI batter and is the first Pakistani to win the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year award, which he has won twice.
Rise to the top
After his early success in ODIs, Babar became a regular across all formats. He was especially consistent in T20 Internationals, often anchoring the innings while others attacked, and became a key run-scorer for Pakistan in home series that returned international cricket to the country. His partnership with fellow opener Mohammad Rizwan became one of the most productive in T20 cricket. Over time he also improved his Test batting, scoring big hundreds against strong bowling attacks, which helped him earn a place among the top batters in all three formats.
Captaincy journey
Babar took over Pakistan’s captaincy in white-ball cricket and later in Tests, and led the side in several ICC tournaments, including a run to the T20 World Cup final in 2022. Leading a cricket-mad nation brings intense pressure, and he stepped away from the role more than once to focus on his batting.
Timeline: key moments
- 1994Born in Lahore
- 2015ODI debut against Zimbabwe
- 2016First ODI century; T20I and Test debuts
- 2017Wins Champions Trophy with Pakistan
- 2019Becomes T20I captain
- 2021Captain in all three formats; ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year
- 2022Leads Pakistan to T20 World Cup final
- 2023Resigns as captain after the ODI World Cup
- 2024Reappointed white-ball captain, then steps down
- 2026Reappointed Pakistan Test captain
Expertise
He is known for elegant technique, timing and cover drives, and for building long innings at the top of the order.
Leadership and impact
As captain, he led Pakistan through a busy period of international cricket and became a role model for young players across Pakistan.
Notable recognition
Babar has won several Pakistan Cricket Board awards and major ICC honours, including recognition as one of the world’s leading ODI players.
Current work
In July 2026 Babar was reappointed as Pakistan’s Test captain. He continues to play all formats for Pakistan and captains Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL.
Online presence
He has one of the largest followings of any Pakistani athlete on social media.
Lessons for your career
Strong fundamentals and patience pay off. Babar’s steady rise shows how mastering the basics can lead to world-class results.
Babar Azam rose from the streets of Lahore to lead his country, becoming one of the most elegant batters of his generation.
