Islamabad
Pakistani skipper Babar Azam has impressed fans and critics alike in the ODI format but he still has miles to cover if he plans to match the records of legends Javed Miandad and Zaheer Abbas.
Azam became the first Pakistani after Mohammad Yousuf to be ranked as the best ODI batsman in the world, after he toppled India’s Virat Kohli to reach the number 1 spot last month.
The ICC, after his impressive showing in the recently-held Pakistan-South Africa series, gave him the top spot with 865 points.
However, former batting greats Miandad and Abbas, both considered one of the finest batsmen in the world during their era, secured more points in the world rankings.
Dubbed the “Asian Bradman”, Abbas’ 931 points is the most for any Pakistan batsman and second-highest overall, only behind Sir Vivian Richards’ 935 points.
Miandad had amassed 910 points at one point in his career. Babar Azam becomes first Pakistan captain to win four opening Test matches
There’s much to celebrate for Azam, however, as he managed to become the first Pakistani skipper in history to win four opening Test matches as captain.
The in-form Pakistani skipper achieved the feat after the green shirts demolished Zimbabwe to clean sweep the two-match Test series, earlier this month.—Agencies