Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf were named in the ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Year when the world cricket body revealed its selection on Friday.
Opening batsman Saim Ayub was at the top of the ICC selection for his “breakout season” following his ODI debut in November against Australia, where he scored a combined 125 runs in three ODIs.
Three of his last five innings have produced centuries, including two in South Africa in December, a three-match series in which he averaged 78.3, ICC said.
In his nine ODI appearances for Pakistan, the left-handed batsman scored 515 runs at an average of 64.37 and a strike rate of 105.53. He also achieved three tons and one fifty, while his highest score was 113.
Earlier this month, Ayub was ruled out of competitive cricket for six weeks after the youngster fractured his ankle. However, he will not require surgery and will instead undergo rehabilitation in London, the Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed last week.
Pacer Afridi made a “huge impact” despite playing just six ODIs in the calendar year. He got 15 wickets, had a bowling average of 17.6 and best bowling figures of 4/47.
“Possessing one of the best bowling strike rates in world cricket, he continued to prove himself to be one of the most consistent bowlers at the international level,” ICC said.
Rauf finished 2024 “firing on all cylinders” as he took 13 wickets in eight ODIs, with a bowling average of 22.4 and best bowling figures of 5/29.
Rauf was also named ICC Men’s Player of the Month for November. He finished with a total of 18 wickets and took the monthly prize over India’s Jasprit Bumrah and South Africa’s Marco Jansen.
Notably, no Indian player was named in the team which included three players from Afghanistan, four from Sri Lanka and one from the West Indies, apart from the Pakistani trio.
ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Year for 2024
Saim Ayub (Pakistan)
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan)
Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka)
Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka)
Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka)
Sherfane Rutherford (West Indies)
Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan)
Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka)
Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
Haris Rauf (Pakistan)
AM Ghazanfar (Afghanistan)
