Pakistan captain Babar Azam reacts to overtaking Virat Kohli in ODI ratings

Pakistan captain Babar Azam says he feels ‘honoured’ after overtaking India’s Virat Kohli to grow to be the top-ranked ODI batsman on this planet.

Babar made ratings of 103, 31 and 94 in Pakistan’s ODI collection victory over South Africa previous within the month.

The 26-year-old’s performances noticed him grow to be the the No. 1 one-day global batsman on this planet forward of India skipper Kohli, who had held the placement since October 2017.

Babar stated: ‘I think privileged and honoured to have joined the corporate of stalwarts like Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad and Mohammad Yousuf, who will at all times be the shining stars of Pakistan cricket.

‘That is every other milestone in my profession, which is able to now require much more onerous paintings and absolute consistency with the bat to ensure that me to carry directly to the rating for a longer time period, like Sir Vivian Richards from January 1984 to October 1988 and Virat Kohli for 1,258 days.’

Babar has now scored 3,808 runs in 80 ODIs at a median of just about 57, with 13 centuries and 17 fifties.

He says his ‘final ambition’ is to climb to the end of the Check batting ratings, with Kohli, Joe Root, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson these days the one participant above him within the standings.

‘I’ve additionally prior to now crowned the T20I ratings, however the final ambition and objective is to guide the Check ratings, that are the actual testomony and praise to a batsman’s calibre, popularity and talents,’ Babar stated.

‘I perceive to reach this purpose, I can no longer best have to accomplish constantly, however extra importantly, in opposition to the end facets.

‘I’m having a look ahead to this problem and stay assured I will accomplish this goal with the reinforce of my team-mates and training body of workers.

‘However at this level, I can savour the instant because it has come nearly 18 months after I used to be first appointed the white-ball captain and that too in the back of my performances that helped Pakistan grow to be the primary Asian facet to win two ODI collection in South Africa.’