Pakistan’s talisman batsman and skipper, Babar Azam, is the recipient of the latest Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year. The ‘Pakistani Prince’, as many call him, became only the second Pakistani player to get the ICC Cricket of the Year award, following his teammate fast bowler Shaheen Afridi, who won it in 2021.
On Wednesday, the ICC announced Babar Azam the ICC Cricket of the Year for 2022.
Across the three formats, Babar Azam scored 2598 runs in 44 matches at an average of 54.12 with eight centuries and 15 half-centuries – nobody scored more international runs in 2022 than Babar Azam.
“It’s hard to believe that Babar Azam even further elevated his game during 2022 as the inspirational skipper broke more individual records and ensured Pakistan’s star continued to shine brightly,” the ICC said announcing Babar Azam’s award. He was the only player to breach the 2000-run mark during the calendar year across all formats.
“His haul of eight hundreds and 17 fifties during the calendar year was Babar’s best of his career to date and there’s no doubt the dynamic right-hander is currently at the top of his game.”
Babar Azam is also the named the ICC Men’s ODI Player Of The Year 2022
Here is the list of the ICC Cricketer Of The Year (2010-2022):
| Year | Winner |
| 2010 | Sachin Tendulkar |
| 2011 | Jonathon Trott |
| 2012 | Kumar Sangakkara |
| 2013 | Michael Clarke |
| 2014 | Mitchell Johnson |
| 2015 | Steve Smith |
| 2016 | R Ashwin |
| 2017 | Virat Kohli |
| 2018 | Virat Kohli |
| 2019 | Ben Stokes |
| 2020 | (award not held) |
| 2021 | Shaheen Afridi |
| 2022 | Babar Azam |
Speaking of other award given out by the ICC this year, the India star batter Suryakumar Yadav is named the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer Of The Year 2022, England Test skipper Ben Stokes is named the ICC Test Cricketer Of The Year 2022, and South African pacer Marco Jansen is the ICC Men’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year 2022.
