The Pakistani government has conferred the Sitara-e-Imtiaz award on national men’s cricket team captain Babar Azam, who has a number of records under his belt in international cricket.
Punjab Governor Muhammad Balighur Rehman awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz medal to Babar at a Pakistan Day ceremony at the Governor’s House in Lahore on March 23. After receiving this award, Babar has become the youngest Pakistani cricketer to receive a Sitara-e-Imtiaz. Babar’s parents were also present at the awards ceremony.
Although this is the first award Babar has received from any government in Pakistan, he has won many prestigious awards in international cricket such as Sir Garfield Sobers Cricketer of the Year award and ICC One-Day Player of the Year award. Babar also had the honour of leading the ICC One-Day Team.
Sitara-e-Imtiaz or ‘Star of Excellence’ is the third-highest civilian award in Pakistan. It recognises people who make an “especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of Pakistan, world peace, cultural or other significant public endeavours”.
As Sitara-e-Imtiaz is not limited to the citizens of Pakistan, it can be given to foreign citizens based on their achievements and services for the State of Pakistan. Although it is a civilian award, it can also be awarded to military officers of the Pakistan Defence Forces.
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On January 23 this year, the International Cricket Council (ICC) issued the final list of winners celebrated in the individual categories of the ICC Awards 2022.
Among the categories mentioned on ICC’s digital channels were the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year and the coveted Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year.
Babar was named the winner of the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, and scooped the Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year prize.
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Earlier, Pakistani cricketers Mohammad Rizwan and Haris Rauf were named in the ICC Men’s T20I team of the year. All-rounder Nida Dar was included in the ICC Women’s T20I team of the year.
Born October 15, 1994 in Lahore, Babar is a right-handed batsman. He is considered one of the finest batsmen in contemporary world cricket. He is the only cricketer in the world to be in the top five rankings across all formats.