Unveiling A Lesser-Known Fact About Pakistan Captain Babar Azam

image-lmx8p6faBabar was in Pakistan's original T20 World Cup 2016 squad [Twitter]

The Pakistan Cricket Board has recently announced its 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023, scheduled to be held in India starting on October 5th. Notably, this squad includes several players who will be travelling to India for the first time, with Babar Azam as their captain.

Lesser Known fact about Babar

However, a lesser-known fact about Pakistan's captain, Babar Azam, is that he was originally slated to travel to India for the T20 World Cup in 2016. However, a left forearm fracture during training saw him getting ruled out of the marquee event, with Sharjeel Khan stepping in as his replacement.

It has been seven years, and Babar Azam, who has carved his own path and established himself as the prolific run-scorer for Pakistan across formats is once again gearing up to travel to India, but this time as the captain of the nation, a narrative that serves as a great source of motivation for cricket fans.

From Grit to Glory: Babar Azam's Incredible Cricket Journey

The 28-year-old introduced himself to international cricket by smashing a half-century on his debut against Zimbabwe (ODI) in 2015. By the following year, he had made his debut in both T20Is and Tests for Pakistan, and it didn't take long for him to become a fixture in all formats. 

The stylish right-handed batter has left a trail of records across formats and has proven his mettle as a captain. However, his ICC trophy cabinet remains empty, a big yardstick for evaluating a captain. The upcoming quadrennial tournament will shine a spotlight on him as he seeks to clinch his first ICC trophy.  

Besides his captaincy, his batting form will come under scrutiny, especially following his less-than-stellar showing in the Asia Cup 2023. Beyond scoring against Nepal's weaker bowling attack, he struggled to make an impact in the remaining matches of the continental tournament and would be eager to make a strong comeback in the World Cup in India.