Babar Azam named captain of ICC ODI Team of the Year

Dubai: The International Cricket Council on Thursday announced the ODI Team of the Year naming Pakistani skipper Babar Azam as the captain.

According to the global cricket governing body, Left-handed batter Fakhar Zaman has also been included in the team but no Indian player was able to make the cut.

Despite playing only six matches, both Pakistan players made it to the cut thanks to their impressive year with the bat.

Power-hitters, terrific all-rounders, fiery pacers ?

The 2021 ICC Men's ODI Team of the Year has all the bases covered ? pic.twitter.com/R2SCJl04kQ

— ICC (@ICC) January 20, 2022

Babar managed to score 405 runs at an average of 67.50 with two centuries, while the left-hander scored 365 runs at an average of 60.83 with two centuries.

The Pakistani skipper was also declared as the best T20 captain of the year 2021 by the ICC.

Apart from the Pakistan pair, three players from Bangladesh, two players each from South Africa, Sri Lanka and Ireland were part of the XI.

Interestingly, not a single player from India, West Indies and New Zealand and Australia made it to the XI.

The T20I team, announced by the ICC yesterday, featured Jos Butler, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (c), Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, David Miller, Tabraiz Shamsi, Josh Hazlewood, Wanindu Hasanranga, Mustafizur Rahman and Shaheen Shah Afridi.