Patiala, 29 December (Sports Desk)
The ICC has revealed the nominees for the Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year award, featuring a diverse group of talented players: an Indian pace spearhead, a Zimbabwean all-rounder, and two prominent batters from Pakistan and Australia.
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Here’s a look at their impressive performances in 2024:
Arshdeep Singh (India):
- Matches: 18
- Wickets: 36
- Average: 13.5
- Best Bowling in an Innings (BBI): 4/9
- Key Achievements: Stepped up as India’s primary T20I pacer in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence. His 36 wickets were the second-most by an Indian in Men’s T20Is in a calendar year, just behind Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s 37 in 2022 (achieved in significantly fewer matches). Performed consistently across various conditions, contributing to key Indian victories in home series and tours of the West Indies, Sri Lanka, and South Africa.
- Memorable Performance: Played a crucial supporting role in India’s T20 World Cup triumph. Dismissed key South African batsmen Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock. Delivered a game-changing 19th over in the final, conceding only four runs and significantly increasing the pressure on South Africa.
Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe):
- Matches: 24
- Runs: 573
- Average: 28.65
- Highest Score: 133*
- Wickets: 24
- Average: 22.25
- BBI: 5/18
- Key Achievements: Nominated for the award for the third consecutive year. Led Zimbabwe’s unbeaten run in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Africa Qualifier Group B, scoring 199 runs and taking 10 wickets. Led Zimbabwe to victories over strong opposition, including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
- Memorable Performance: While he scored his maiden T20I hundred and took a five-wicket haul in the sub-regional qualifier, his standout performance came against India. His crucial 17 runs helped Zimbabwe reach a respectable total, but it was his bowling that turned the game. He took 3/25, including the crucial wicket of Shubman Gill, to secure a thrilling 13-run victory for Zimbabwe.
Babar Azam (Pakistan):
- Matches: 24
- Runs: 738
- Average: 33.54
- Highest Score: 75*
- Key Achievements: Pakistan’s highest T20I run-scorer in the past year. Scored six half-centuries and hit close to a hundred boundaries. Improved his strike rate to 133.21. Is close to surpassing Rohit Sharma’s record for most T20I runs.
- Memorable Performance: Led from the front in a crucial chase of 179 against Ireland, scoring 75 off just 42 balls at a strike rate of 178.57 to help Pakistan secure a series victory before the T20 World Cup.
Travis Head (Australia):
- Matches: 15
- Runs: 539
- Average: 38.5
- Highest Score: 80
- Key Achievements: Established himself as a regular in Australia’s T20I lineup. Scored the second-most T20I runs for Australia in a calendar year at a strike rate of 178.47. Performed well in the IPL and the T20 World Cup 2024, finishing as the third-highest run-scorer with 255 runs at a strike rate of 158.38.
- Memorable Performance: Scored a blistering 59 off just 23 balls against England in Southampton, hitting 12 boundaries and four sixes, setting up a comfortable victory for Australia.
