Beautiful gesture as Babar Azam gives POTM award to Khushdil Shah

Skipper Babar Azam has shown a beautiful gesture as he decided to give his Player of the Match (POTM) award to Khushdil Shah who smashed crucial not out 40 off 23 balls which led Pakistan to defeat the West Indies.

Pakistan defeated the West Indies by five wickets in a last-over thrilling first ODI of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League on Wednesday.

Babar Azam – record-breaking player

Multan’s 14-year wait for the return of international cricket was rewarded with a record-breaking century by Babar Azam and Khushdil Shah’s whirlwind knock as Pakistan defeated the West Indies by five wickets in a last-over thrilling first ODI of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League on Wednesday.

After scoring 114 and 105 not out in the last two ODIs against Australia in Lahore on 31 March and 2 April, respectively, Babar Azam struck another signature 103 off 107 balls that turned out to be the cornerstone of Pakistan’s effort of overhauling the West Indies’ 305 for eight with just four balls remaining.

When Babar Azam struck his ninth boundary to reach the magical figures, he achieved three rare records.

The world No.1 became the first batter in the history of ODI cricket to record three consecutive centuries on two different occasions, completed the fastest 1,000 ODI runs as captain and became the quickest to 17 ODI centuries.

In September/October 2016, Babar had scored 120, 123 and 117 to become the third Pakistan batter after Zaheer Abbas and Saeed Anwar and eighth overall to hit three successive centuries. In reaching 1,000 ODI runs in his 13th innings as captain, he eclipsed Virat Kohli’s record who had achieved this milestone in his 17th innings.

Babar’s 17th career century came in his 85th innings that bettered Hashim Amla’s record who had scored his 17th century in the 98th innings.

Khushdil Shah’s crucial inning

There was a little bit of panic when Azam and Rizwan left the crease in a span of 19 balls with 50 runs required off 32 balls.

However, Khushdil Shah rose to the occasion and repeated his heroics in the second ODI against Australia by slapping four sixes (three off successive deliveries from Romario Shepherd) and a four in a 23-ball 41 not out. In the second ODI on 31 March, Khushdil had struck two fours and two sixes in a 17-ball 27 not out as Pakistan achieved the 349-run target with six balls to spare.

Azam’s gesture

Despite being named for the POTM award, Azam requested the organisers to hand it over to Shah.