Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Jan 20: No Indian makes the ODI Team of 2021, just as no Indian makes the ICC T20I Team of 2021. Babar Azam of Pakistan has been picked as the captain of the ICC ODI Team of 2021, which also includes Pakistan batsman Fakhar Zaman. Two Proteas players have been named in the squad, along with two Sri Lankans.
Three Bangladeshi players are also included in the starting eleven. Babar managed to amass 405 runs at an average of 67.50 with two centuries despite only playing six matches in 2021. In tough away visits to South Africa and England, the talismanic Pakistan captain made crucial contributions, winning Player of the Match awards in each of their victories in the former.
In Birmingham, he also hit a memorable tonne in favourable conditions for seamers. In 2021, Zaman continued his excellent run as a member of Pakistan’s ODI team. He scored 365 runs at an average of 60.83 in six matches, including two centuries.
In a knock that will be remembered for a long time, one of the centuries came against South Africa. In Johannesburg, he scored 193, virtually leading Pakistan to victory in their chase of 342 points.
Wanindu Hasaranga, a significant player with both the bat and the ball, continued to establish himself as the Sri Lankan team’s superstar in the shorter formats of the game in 2021. In 14 matches, he scored 356 runs at an average of 27.38 with three half-centuries. Hasaranga was also a persistent threat with the ball, taking 12 wickets for a low economy rate of 4.56.
ICC ODI Team of 2021: Paul Stirling (Ireland), Janneman Malan (South Africa), Babar Azam (Pakistan), Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan), Rassie van der Dussen (South Africa), Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh), Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh), Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka), Mustazifur Rahman (Bangladesh), Simi Singh (Ireland) and Dushmantha Chameera (Sri Lanka).
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