ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s all-format Babar Azam will receive Sitara-e-Imtiaz – Pakistan’s third highest civilian award – on the occasion of Pakistan Day, March 23.

With the conferment of the award, Babar would become the youngest Pakistani cricketer to receive Sitara-e-Imtiaz at the age of 28.

Before Babar, Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, Sarfraz Ahmed, Saeed Ajmal, Muhammad Yousuf, Inzimam Ul Haq and Javed Miandad received the award.

Pakistan captain will formally receive the honour at the Civil Award Ceremony at Aiwan-i-Sadar on March 23. President Dr Arif Alvi conferred the civil awards on 253 Pakistani citizens as well as foreign nationals on the occasion of the 75th diamond jubilee anniversary of the country on August 14 last year.

Besides Babar, 13 other athletes will be conferred with civil awards for their outstanding achievements in the field of sports. The list includes women’s team ex-captain Bismah Maroof, Commonwealth Games gold medalists Arshad Nadeem and Muhammad Nooh Dastagir, Jahangir Khan (squash), Ch. Shafay Hussain (Kabaddi), Shafiq Ahmed Chishti (Kabaddi), Sirbaz Khan (Mountaineering), Ahsan Ramzan (Snooker), Masood Jan (Blind Cricket), Amina Wali (Skiing), Abdul Karim (Mountaineer/ Porter), Irfan Mehsood (Martial Arts) and Ms Shahida (Karate)

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