Babar Azam nominated for ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year award

DUBAI: Pakistan batting maestro Babar Azam has been nominated by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the prestigious Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year award on Sunday.

Babar is up against fierce competition from Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh, Australia’s aggressive top-order batter Travis Head and Zimbabwean all-rounder Sikandar Raza.

“An Indian who starred in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup triumph joins a Zimbabwe ace and two quality batters from Pakistan and Australia in the nominees for the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year,” the apex cricketing body announced through a press release.

In a year marked by ups and downs, Babar Azam emerged as the standout performer for Pakistan, amassing a total of 738 runs across 24 matches at a commendable average of 33.54.

He scored six half-centuries and was the highest run-scorer for Pakistan in the last 12 months, solidifying his status as the backbone of the national team. Notably, his strike rate saw significant improvement this year, reaching an impressive 133.21.

On the other hand, left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh enjoyed a phenomenal year, standing out with an impressive tally of 36 wickets from 18 matches, boasting a remarkable bowling average of 13.5 and recording the best bowling figures of 4 for just 9 runs.

His most memorable performance unfolded in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa, where his skilful death bowling, complemented by the expertise of fellow pacer Jasprit Bumrah, played a pivotal role in securing victory for India.

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Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s shining star, Sikandar Raza, received his nomination for the prestigious award for the third consecutive year, showcasing his invaluable contributions to the team.

Raza notched up 573 runs in 24 matches, maintaining an average of 28.65, with a highest score of 133 not out, achieved during Zimbabwe’s flawless campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup sub-regional Africa Qualifier.

In addition to his batting prowess, Raza showcased his all-round capabilities by claiming 24 wickets at an average of 22.25, featuring breathtaking bowling figures of 5 for 18.

Australia’s Travis Head also made a significant impact this year, enjoying his first consistent run in the lineup since his T20I debut in 2016.

He showcased his remarkable batting skills by scoring 539 runs in just 15 matches at an impressive average of 38.5, with a highest score of 80.

His run tally for the year stood as the second-best by an Australian batter in a calendar year, achieved at an exhilarating strike rate of 178.47.

During the T20 World Cup, Head proved to be a vital asset, accumulating 255 runs, making him the third-highest run-scorer in the tournament, with a striking rate of 158.38 that kept opponents on their toes.

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