Pakistan captain Babar Azam dethroned Indian maestro Virat Kohli after more than three years as the world`s number one batsman in one-day international rankings, the International Cricket Council announced Wednesday. The 26-year-old becomes the fourth Pakistani batsmen to get the top spot in ODIs and the first since Mohammad Yousuf in 2003.

"Pakistan captain Azam has ended Kohli`s long reign at the top of the ICC Men`s ODI player rankings," the ICC said in a statement from its Dubai headquarters. Azam knocked 103, 32 and 94 in a three-match series in South Africa which Pakistan won 2-1 last week. By ending Kohli`s supremacy that lasted more than three years, Azam has followed compatriots Zaheer Abbas (1983-84), Javed Miandad (1988-89), and Mohammad Yousuf (2003) as the number one ODI batsman. In Tests, Azam`s best position was fifth and he is currently ranked sixth, while in T20Is he has previously been number one and now ranks third, the ICC added.