Babar Azam Overthrows Virat Kohli To Become The World's No 1 Batsman

Pakistan captain Babar Azam on Wednesday overthrown Indian captain Virat Kohli to become the top ranked ODI batsman in the world, according to the latest ICC ODI rankings.

Azam is now on top of ICC's ODI batsman rankings with 865 points and Kohli lies on number 2 with 857 points.

Per the new rankings, Babar finished Kohli’s five-year supremacy at the top of the ICC rankings. The Indian batsman was on top of the list since October 2017. 

The Pakistani captain jumped to the top of the table after scoring 228 runs in the recently played ODI series between Pakistan and South Africa.

Azam has ranked as the number one ODI batsman in the world for the first time. The last Pakistani who achieved this position was former captain Mohammad Yousuf in 2003.

According to the PCB, Azam is the fourth Pakistani batsman after Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad, and Mohammad Yousuf, to attain the top of the ODI batting list.

“I feel fortunate and honoured to have joined the company of loyalists like Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad, and Mohammad Yousuf, who will remain the shining stars of Pakistan cricket," PCB quoted Azam in a statement released minutes after the ICC update.

Azam stated, “this achievement will now need even more hard work and absolute consistency" from him if he wants to continue to the spot like West Indies great Sir Vivian Richards and India's Kohli.

“I have previously topped the T20I rankings also, but my ultimate goal is to lead the Test rankings, which are the real proof and reward to a batsman’s competence, reputation, and skills," said Azam. 

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The Pakistan captain said he knows that to achieve his goal, he will "not only have to perform consistently but more importantly, against the top sides".