It was a double delight for Pakistan skipper Babar Azam as he was picked for the 'ODI Cricketer of the Year' and the 'Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC Men's Cricketer of 2022' on Thursday. A year after he won the 'ODI Cricketer of the Year' in 2021, the charismatic batter continued to dominate world cricket and was the only player to breach the 2000-run mark in 2022 across all formats. Babar passed that milestone in style, amassing 2,598 runs at an imposing average of 54.12. During the calendar year, the Pakistani cricketer's eight hundred and 17 fifties were the best of his career.

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Congratulations to the Pride of🇵🇰#BabarAzam𓃵 #ICCAwards2022 pic.twitter.com/IXr3KrPmoc
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— Lahore Qalandars (@lahoreqalandars) January 26, 2023

The 2021 ICC Men's ODI Player of the Year continued to rule in the 50-over format, scoring 679 runs in nine matches, and it was no surprise to see the 28-year-old win the title for the second successive year. He continues to hold on to the top spot in the ODI Player Rankings. Babar only played nine ODIs but made it count, scoring 679 runs at an average of 84.87 with three centuries.

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Babar Azam is the ICC Men's ODI Cricketer of the Year for the second year in a row ✨#ICCAwards pic.twitter.com/JcTIEtwwPe
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 26, 2023

Pakistan's only loss in 50-over cricket last year came against Australia in Lahore. Going by the statistics, it is evident that Babar was an easy selection choice for the ODI Player of the Year title. It was also a memorable year for Babar as captain in the white-ball formats -- Pakistan won all three ODI series they played, losing just one match out of nine at the hands of Australia.

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In a league of his own!@TheRealPCB @babarazam258 #BabarAzam𓃵 #ICCAwards @ICC pic.twitter.com/D8n0aAd3w7
— Urooj Mumtaz Khan (@uroojmumtazkhan) January 26, 2023

In the T20I format, Azam led Pakistan to the World Cup final in Australia, its first since 2009, as it finished runner-up to England. Babar also enjoyed a tremendous year in Tests, accumulating 1,184 runs from just nine matches and did the bulk of the heavy lifting for Pakistan in the longer format. He scored an epic 196 not out in a 10-hour marathon second-innings knock that took Pakistan from an inevitable defeat to almost pull off an improbable win in the drawn Karachi Test.

Well Deserved 👑 Congratulations @babarazam258 #BabarAzam𓃵 #ODI pic.twitter.com/MWjeCVpS2a
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— Saeed Ajmal (@REALsaeedajmal) January 26, 2023

Stokes: Men's Test Cricketer of Year
Talismanic England skipper and allrounder Ben Stokes, who redefined Test cricket in 2022, was sentenced as the best in the longer format. Since taking over as England captain, Stokes has led the team to nine wins from 10 Tests, completing series victories over New Zealand and South Africa at home, beating India in the one-off postponed Test to level the series at 2-2 and hammering Pakistan 3-0 away from home -- England's best margin of victory in the country.

Ben Stokes. Built different. pic.twitter.com/1serUGeLl9
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) January 26, 2023

Before Stokes was appointed captain, England had been beaten in each of its four most recent completed series and had won just one of their previous 17 Tests. He scored 870 runs at an average of 36.25 and claimed 26 wickets at an average of 31.19. England's scoring rate of 4.13 across 15 Tests in 2022 was the second highest in history and the most since Australia in 1910.

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Congratulations to @benstokes38 on being named ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year for 2022! After winning 9 of his 10 Tests as England’s new captain, the ICC noted Ben: ‘defined the year of Test cricket more than any other’

It's the 2nd time Ben has claimed the award 🏆🏏👏 pic.twitter.com/mKqciyUSVi
— GM Cricket 🏏 (@GMCricket) January 26, 2023

In the matches in which Stokes led England, the team struck at a game-changing 4.77 per over. England's 506/4 on the opening day of the first Test against Pakistan was the most runs scored by any team on the first day of a Test, and it came off just 75 overs.

And @natsciver has also now won the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy as overall ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year. #bbccricket #ICCAwards pic.twitter.com/BVUByFOfc9
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) January 26, 2023

Sciver reigns supreme in women's cricket
England skipper and star allrounder Nat Sciver also made it a double. She was declared winner of the 'Women's ODI Cricketer of the Year' and the 'Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year'. Sciver hit 1,346 runs and took 22 wickets in 33 matches in the year, captaining England for much of her side's home summer.

🙌 Congratulations @natsciver and @benstokes38 on winning @ICC awards!

🏆 The @cinchuk PCA Women’s Player of the Year wins the @ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year!

🏆 The @englandcricket Test captain wins @ICC Test Cricketer of the Year!

👊 Well done, both! pic.twitter.com/nS7JXd7KQZ
— PCA (@PCA) January 26, 2023

Sciver was exceptional in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2022, finishing as the tournament's third-highest scorer and playing a massive part in England's qualification for the final. In ODIs, she scored 833 runs and took 11 wickets from 17 matches.

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Congratulations @natsciver 🎉

東京都生まれで、女子クリケットイングランド代表のナタリー・シヴァー選手が、2022年女子世界最優秀選手に選出されました！おめでとうございます👏 https://t.co/sFAP0gcGIy
— Japan Cricket Association｜日本クリケット協会 (@CricketJapan) January 26, 2023

Illingworth: Best umpire
Englishman Richard Illingworth was adjudged 'ICC Umpire of the Year' for a second time. In 2019 too, he was adjudged the 'Best Umpire'.

Richard Illingworth, who is now a two-time ICC Umpire of the Year. Congratulations 👏. Virat Kohli Got Robbed. #ICCAwards #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/10C7HQ8vA9
— Shaharyar Ejaz 🏏 (@SharyOfficial) January 26, 2023

The awards
Men's Cricketer and ODI Cricketer: Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Women's Cricketer and ODI Cricketer: Nat Sciver (England)
Men's Test Cricketer: Ben Stokes (England)
Umpire: Richard Illingworth (England)
Spirit of Cricket: Aasif Sheikh (Nepal)

(With inputs from PTI)

Congratulations

Aasif Sheikh has been named the recipient of the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award 2022 for his decision not to run out Andy McBrine after the Irish star tripped while attempting a run. Aasif becomes the first player from Nepal to win the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award pic.twitter.com/C7AZV6Kn5n
— CAN (@CricketNep) January 26, 2023