The Captain of the Pakistan Cricket Team Babar Azam is riding high these days. Recently, he won two ICC awards, was named the Men’s Player of the Year as well as the ODI Player of the Year for 2022. The International Cricket Council selected him as the captain of the ODI team of 2022 for the second year running. With runs flowing from his bat, he is everywhere.

A favourite among kids, a book on Babar Azam was needed, and leading sports journalist Qamar Ahmed came up with the perfect one.

Titled Babar Azam: The Rising Star, the book not only talks about the batter’s meticulous rise, but also about his early days. It traces Babar Azam’s time when he served as a ball picker in Lahore, to his appointment as the skipper in all three formats. The author must be commended for doing a great job since his book combines local and international cricket writers who shed light on the life and career of Babar Azam, who is fast becoming a legend.

Senior sports journalists Shahid Hashmi, Rishad Mahmood, Omair Alavi and Richard Heller (from the UK) contribute to this book and help the readers realise that before succeeding as a dependable batter, Babar Azam had to struggle hard. Each writer described Babar’s rise and technique in their own words, some throwing in interesting anecdotes — the most interesting being the moment when a teenage Babar survived Shoaib Akhtar, the fastest bowler in the world at that time.

The contribution of his first-ever coach Mama Juna, former test cricketer Mudassar Nazar and former head coach Mickey Arthur, would give a clear picture of how Babar Azam became who he is today. A chapter by Ehsan Mani, former ICC President, and PCB’s Chairman, will also give insight into Babar Azam’s appointment as the captain of the cricket team since Ehsan Mani and his team were behind that.

Which batter did Babar Azam adore in his teenage years? How did he manage to get perfect cover drives? Which players or coaches inspired him to achieve greatness and who is his biggest critic? These are some of the questions which would be answered in the 75-page book, which is nothing short of a collector’s item.

There are quotes from famous cricketers, local and international, regarding Babar Azam, in the book. With coloured photographs spread over and records provided by statistician Mazhar Arshad at the end, Babar Azam: The Rising Star is a must-have on the bookshelf. It is an informative guidebook for young minds who want to follow their dreams.

Published in Dawn, Young World, February 4th, 2023