The International Cricket Council (ICC) has nominated Pakistan’s National Squad Captain, Babar Azam, for the Men’s ODI Player of the Year award on Thursday. According to the statement issued by the ICC, Babar Azam has been nominated in the Men’s ODI Player of the Year award based on his vital contributions in the two series that Pakistan played this year.
“Babar Azam was the second highest run-scorer with 228 runs as well as Player of the Match in both of Pakistan’s wins in the 2-1 series victory against South Africa.” said the ICC. “The all-format captain was also the architect of Pakistan’s chase of 274 in the first ODI with a century and laid the foundation with an 82 ball 94 in the final ODI where the visitors posted 320 batting first.”
The statement also added that Babar Azam was the “lone warrior” for Pakistan when they were swept by England 3-0. The Pakistan Captain was able to accumulate 177 runs in three games without any support from the other batters.
The ICC also said that crickets other than Babar Azam, nominated by the ICC for the Men’s Player of the Year award, include Bangladesh’s Shakibul Hassan, South Africa’s Janneman Malan, and Ireland’s Paul Stirling.
It is pertinent to mention that ICC had received a lot of criticism for not including Babar Azam in the nomination for Men’s T20I Player of the Year award. However, it makes sense now since ICC may have already planned to include Babar Azam in the Men’s ODI Player of the Year award instead.
The winner for the ODI Player of the Year award will be announced by the ICC on 24 January 2022.
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