DUBAI: Pakistan’s ace batter Babar Azam on Sunday, was named among the four nominees for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year Award.
Babar, the former top-ranked batter of the format was nominated for the award, alongside India’s Arshdeep Singh, Australia’s Travis Head and Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza.
Despite a mixed year with the bat, Babar Azam scored 738 runs in 24 matches at a decent average of 33.54 with the help of six half-centuries and almost hundred boundaries.
The following year also saw an improvement in his strike rate, with the batter clocking 133.21 runs every 100 deliveries.
His best performance came in the three-match away series against Ireland ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 when he scored 75 from 42 balls with the help of six fours and five sixes at an exemplary strike rate of 178.57.
India’s left-arm pacer Arshdeep enjoyed a stellar year in the format, picking up 36 wickets in 18 matches at a magnificent average of 13.5 and the best bowling figures of 4/9.
His best performance in the outgoing year came in T20 World Cup final against South Africa, when he, alongside ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah led India to glory with tight death bowling.
Zimbabwe’s Raza has been nominated for the prestigious award for the third consecutive year as he continued to deliver goods for the Chevrons.
Raza scored 573 runs in 24 matches at an average of 28.65 and the highest score of 133 not out, which came in Zimbabwe’s unbeaten run in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup sub-regional Africa Qualifier.
He was equally impressive with the ball, picking up 24 wickets at an average of 22.25 and the best bowling figures of 5/18.
Meanwhile, Australia’s Head, who got his first consistent run in the lineup since making his T20I debut in 2016, proved his mettle in the format by accumulating 539 runs in 15 matches at an average of 38.5 and the highest score of 80.
His runs’ tally is the second-best by an Australian batter in a calendar year and came at a strike rate of 178.47.
Sohail Imran Sohail Imran is a senior reporter for Geo News.- Babar Azam
- Arshdeep Singh
