The Sitara-e-Imtiaz award will be given to Pakistani cricket team captain Babar Azam for his outstanding contributions on March 23, the 24News HD TV channel reported on Tuesday.
The Government of Pakistan had already announced a list of 253 personalities on 14 August 2022 who had been conferred awards which included Azam’s name but the recipients had to wait until March 23rd this year to receive their medals.
With the conferment of the award, Babar would become the youngest player to be awarded Sitara-e-Imtiaz at the age of 28 for his outstanding achievements in the field of sports. Previously, former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed held the record as the youngest person to be awarded the prestigious award.
The country's third-highest civilian award Sitara-e-Imtiaz achiever Babar Azam has risen to the top of batting rankings in all three formats in a very short span while earning numerous accolades for himself and his nation.
The batter also leads the Pakistan Cricket Team in all three formats of the game.
He joins a prestigious list of cricketers who have also been conferred the third-highest civilian award from the government of Pakistan.
Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Yousuf, Saeed Ajmal, Javed Miandad and Inzamam ul Haq have all been previously awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz for their contributions to the game.
Babar will officially be presented with the honour during the 23rd March celebrations at President’s House on March 23.
He will be present for the ceremony after being rested for the Afghanistan series.