After scoring 228 runs in the recently concluded ODI series between Pakistan and South Africa, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam became the number one ODI batsman in the ICC ODI rankings. Babar Azam now sits on top of the ICC’s ODI batsman rankings with 865 points, and Kohli is at number 2 with 857 points. Rohit Sharma is third on the list with 825 points to his name. Babar Azam’s move ends Virat Kohli’s 1,258 day-supremacy, which adds up to over three years at the top of the ICC ODI rankings.
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The 26-year-old is the fourth Pakistan batsman to achieve the honor, following in the footsteps of Zaheer Abbas (1983-84), Javed Miandad (1988-89), and Mohammad Yousuf (2003) as the number one ODI batsman. In Tests, Babar has attained the best of the fifth position and is currently ranked sixth, while in T20Is he is third but has been number one in the past.
Azam said that this “milestone will now require even more hard work and absolute consistency” from him if he wants to hold on to the spot like West Indies great Sir Vivian Richards and India’s Kohli.
“This is another milestone in my career, which will now require even more hard work and absolute consistency with the bat in order for me to hold on to the ranking for an extended period of time,” Babar said in a statement issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board.
“I have also previously topped the T20I rankings, but the ultimate ambition and goal are to lead the Test rankings.”
Babar Azam made his debut against Zimbabwe in 2015 and has scored 3808 runs in 78 ODI innings at a splendid average of 56.83. The elegant right-handed batsman has 13 centuries and 17 half-centuries under his belt.
