Babar Azam Nominated for ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year Award
Travis Head Shines with 539 Runs in 15 T20I Matches
LAHORE: Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam has been nominated for the prestigious ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year Award.
Despite a mixed year with the bat, Babar Azam’s consistent performance has earned him a spot among the nominees for the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year award. The former Pakistan captain, who currently ranks as the top ODI batter and sixth in T20Is, scored 738 runs in 24 T20I matches in 2024, averaging 33.54. His efforts included six half-centuries and almost 100 boundaries, while his strike rate saw an improvement, clocking 133.21 runs per 100 balls. Babar’s standout performance came during a three-match away series against Ireland, where he hit 75 off 42 balls with a strike rate of 178.57.
Other nominees for the award include India’s left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, Australia’s Travis Head, and Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza.
Arshdeep had an outstanding year, picking up 36 wickets in 18 matches at an impressive average of 13.5, with his best bowling figures being 4-9. His exceptional death bowling was crucial for India in their T20 World Cup victory, particularly in the final against South Africa.
Travis Head, who found a consistent place in Australia’s T20I lineup, accumulated 539 runs in 15 matches at an average of 38.5, with a strike rate of 178.47. His highest score in the format was 80, making him the second-highest run scorer for Australia in a calendar year.
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Meanwhile, Sikandar Raza continues to shine for Zimbabwe, scoring 573 runs in 24 matches at an average of 28.65, with a high score of 133* in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup sub-regional Africa Qualifier. Raza was also impressive with the ball, taking 24 wickets at an average of 22.25, with best bowling figures of 5-18.
The ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year Award highlights the top performances across the year in T20I cricket, with all four nominees making significant contributions to their respective teams.
