Former Pakistan captain and star batter Babar Azam celebrated his 30th birthday today, with fellow cricketers showering him with heartfelt wishes and praise for his remarkable contributions to the sport.
As the Green Shirts face the Three Lions in the ongoing Test series, Babar takes this moment to reflect and recharge during his time away from the field.
This year marks a significant turning point for Babar, as it is the first time he has been dropped from the Pakistan team since his debut in white-ball cricket against Zimbabwe in 2015 and his Test baptism against the West Indies the following year.
Babar first captured the world's attention in 2016 when he achieved three consecutive hundreds in an ODI series against the West Indies, establishing himself as one of the game’s premier talents.
In a testament to his skill and determination, Babar ascended to the top of the ODI rankings in 2021, dethroning Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli.
Although he briefly lost the number one spot, Babar remains a formidable force in white-ball cricket.
Despite this, he currently sits fourth in the T20 rankings, while his form in the longer format has seen him drop out of the world’s top ten.
To commemorate Babar's special day, numerous players from the national team took to social media to express their admiration and affection. Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Aamir Jamal, and Salman Ali Agha were among those who shared their thoughts, celebrating Babar's illustrious career and wishing him well for the future.
Shadab Khan posted a photo of himself with Babar, both donning their green jerseys, captioning it: “Happy birthday @babarazam. May you have a great year on & off the field. Everyone knows your batting class.”
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Shadab Khan (@shadab0800)
Shaheen Shah Afridi, also resting during the Test series, took to his Instagram Story to wish Babar a “great year ahead.”
Haris Rauf echoed similar sentiments, calling him a “great hoo” and adding, “Happy birthday brother.”
All-rounder Salman Ali Agha also joined the celebrations, wishing Babar a “wonderful year ahead.”
Pacer Aamir Jamal expressed hope that Babar would continue to “shine and shine more than ever.”
