ICC T20I Cricketer of the Year 2024: Four stars including Arshdeep Singh in the nomination list

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday released the nomination list for the 2024 Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year Award. Four players are in the race for this prestigious award, including India’s left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh. Apart from them, Pakistan’s Babar Azam, Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza, and Australia’s Travis Head are also in this list.

Arshdeep Singh: Great performance by India’s fast bowler

• Overall performance:
  • 36 wickets in 18 matches at an average of 13.5 in 2024.
  • Second highest wicket taker in a year.
  • His best performance: 4 wickets for 9 runs.
• Effect:
  • After the T20 World Cup final, he took 18 wickets.
  • His lethal bowling troubled the batsmen of Sri Lanka, South Africa, and Bangladesh.
• Post World Cup glow:
  • Arshdeep strengthened the bowling of the Indian team with his variety and accuracy.

Babar Azam: Pakistan’s star batsman

• Overall performance:
  • 738 runs in 24 T20I matches at an average of 33.54 in 2024.
  • Highest score: 75 not out.
  • 6 half-centuries and almost 100 fours.
• Fans’ opinion:
  • Some fans raised questions on Babar’s nomination.
  • There is talk of including Hardik Pandya or Jasprit Bumrah in his place.
• Importance:
  • No other Pakistani batsman has scored as many T20I runs as him in the last 12 months.

Sikandar Raza: Zimbabwe captain and all-rounder

• Overall performance:
  • 573 runs in 24 matches at an average of 28.65.
  • Highest score: 133 runs not out.
  • 24 wickets in bowling.
  • Best performance: 5 wickets for 18 runs.
• Importance:
  • Raza’s all-round performance proved to be a game changer for Zimbabwe.

Travis Head: Australia’s influential batsman

• Overall performance:
  • 539 runs in 15 matches at an average of 38.5.
  • Highest score: 80 runs.
  • This is the second best performance by an Australian player in a calendar year.
• Special Achievement:
  • Batting regularly for the first time since his debut in 2016, he displayed his abilities brilliantly.

Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year 2024: Absence of Indian players

ICC also released nominations for Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year. The name of any Indian player is not included in this list.

• Nominated players:
  1. Chamari Atapattu (Sri Lanka):
     • 723 runs in 21 matches, highest score 119 not out.
     • 21 wickets in bowling.
  2. Amelia Kerr (New Zealand):
     • 387 runs and 29 wickets in 18 matches.
  3. Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa):
     • 673 runs in 19 matches, highest score 102.
  4. Orla Prendergast (Ireland):
     • 544 runs and 21 wickets in 18 matches.