Babar expressed his joy at being named the ICC Player of the Month for August 2023.
“My team and I have put on some outstanding performances over the past month, which has been extraordinary. It was fantastic to play in front of the fervent and cricket-crazy crowds of Multan and Lahore, with the Asia Cup finally visiting Pakistan after such a long time. The joy was doubled because I achieved my second ODI score of 150+ in Multan in front of my own people.
“I am looking forward to building off the current form as we enter an exciting period of cricket with the Asia Cup coming to an end and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup drawing near. Together with my team, we are eager to bring joy and happiness to Pakistan’s millions of supporters.
The seasoned Pakistani player dominated in the 50-over format during a standout month in Asia. Babar experienced a rare setback when he failed to register any runs in the first ODI of a bilateral series against Afghanistan in Sri Lanka..
He quickly recovered, though, showcasing his tenacity with two back-to-back fifties. The second ODI featured a standout moment when Imam-ul-Haq and the Pakistan captain combined for a crucial 118 runs, paving the way for a thrilling last-over contest.
Imam’s 91 runs and the lower-order batters provided solid support for Babar’s 53 runs during the run chase. With one ball remaining and one wicket remaining, Pakistan secured a thrilling victory.
He then added another crucial 60, helping his team win the final ODI with a commendable total of 268/8. Excellent bowling from Pakistan allowed them to win by a margin of 59 runs and sweep the series 3-0.
Babar’s outstanding play continued after the series ended, as he had a strong debut in the ongoing Asia Cup. He put on an amazing performance in the tournament opener against Nepal, scoring 151 runs off 131 balls.
The Pakistan captain became the first player to reach 19 ODI centuries, the fastest in the history of the game, during this innings, setting a new record.
