ISLAMABAD: Pakistan captain Babar Azam was named among the recipients of the Sitara-e-Imtiaz — the country’s third-highest civilian honour — on the occasion of its 75th Independence Day on Sunday.

The batter, at 27, will become the youngest Pakistani to be conferred upon the award while national women’s team skipper Bismah Maroof will receive the Tamgha-e-Pakistan.

Babar stands top of the International Cricket Council’s One-day International and T20 batting rankings and is placed third in the Test charts.

Hailing from Lahore, Babar boasts an ODI average of 59.2 and averaged more than 45 in Tests and T20s.

Bismah, a veteran of 118 ODIs and 117 T20s, on the other hand, has inspired a generation of aspiring women cricketers continuing to play cricket and lead Pakistan after becoming a mother.

The left-handed batter, also from Lahore, has amassed more than 5000 runs across both formats.

As many as 253 Pakistani citizens are set to receive civilian awards this year, the President’s office announced Sunday.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2022