No Indian cricketer as Babar Azam named captain of ICC Men’s T20I team of the year
check the ICC Men's T20I team of the year
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the ICC Men’s T20I team of the year. Three Pakistani cricketers, Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan, have been included the T20I team of the year.
Pakistan’s all format captain, Babar Azam, has also been named the captain of ICC Men’s T20I team of the year. The T20 team of the year includes three Pakistanis, three South Africans, two Australians and one each from England, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. It is pertinent to mention that no Indian cricketer has been named in the T20 team of the year.
Mohammad Rizwan (wk) (Pakistan)
The Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter ruled the roost in 2021 when it came to the shortest format of the game. Aggregating a staggering 1326 runs in only 29 matches, Rizwan struck at an average of 73.66 and a strike-rate of 134.89. Apart from his exploits with the bat, he was as solid as ever behind the stumps, playing a key role in Pakistan’s run to the semis during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, where he ended up as the third-highest run-scorer.
Babar Azam (c) (Pakistan)
The Pakistan skipper was at his classy best in the shortest format in 2021, leaving his best at the T20 World Cup where he ended the tournament as the leading run-scorer. Overall, Babar played 29 matches and aggregated 939 runs at an average of 37.56 with one century and nine half-centuries. His captaincy was also praised as he led his team to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup in UAE and Oman.
Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
It was a year for remember for Shaheen Afridi, especially in the shortest form of the game. Extracting brilliant movement with the new ball and reversing it with the old, Afridi picked up 23 wickets in 21 matches at an average of 26.04 and an economy of 7.86. Still only 21, Shaheen will likely lead the Pakistan pace bowling unit for years to come and with already rapid improvements in his bowling, he will undoubtedly prove to be a fearsome prospect.
What are your views on this? Share in the comments bar below.
