The ICC’s ODI Team of the Year features dominance from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, with 10 players from these three Asian nations. The only exception is West Indies’ Sherfane Rutherford.
The 2024 ICC ODI team was announced on Friday, with Sri Lanka contributing the most players—four in total. Pakistan and Afghanistan each have three players in the squad.
Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka, a middle-order batter, is the team’s captain. In 2024, he scored 605 runs at an average of 50.2 from 16 ODIs, including one century and four fifties.
Pakistan’s rising star, opener Saim Ayub, has been exceptional since his debut in November 2024. In his last nine ODIs, Ayub scored 515 runs at an impressive average of 64.37, with three centuries and one fifty.
Another opener in the ICC’s Team of the Year is Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz. He scored 531 runs at an average of 48.2 from 11 ODIs, with three centuries and two fifties.
Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka, who scored 694 runs at 63.09 from 12 ODIs, also made it to the team. His three centuries and two fifties include a double century (210*) in 2024, making him the first Sri Lankan to achieve such a feat.
Kusal Mendis, another Sri Lankan, was the highest run-scorer of the year with 742 runs from 17 ODIs at an average of 53. He scored one fifty and six fifties.
The only non-Asian player in the team is West Indies’ Sherfane Rutherford. Rutherford impressed with 425 runs from 9 ODIs at an average of 106.2, including one century and four fifties.
Afghanistan’s pace-bowling all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai earned his spot with 417 runs at an average of 52.1 from 12 ODIs, along with 17 wickets. He also scored his maiden ODI century last year.
Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga, the highest wicket-taker of the year with 26 wickets from 10 ODIs, is also part of the team. He achieved remarkable figures of 7 wickets for 19 runs against Zimbabwe in January, the fifth-best bowling performance in ODI history.
Afghanistan’s M. Ghazanfar, an 18-year-old spinner, impressed in his debut year with 21 wickets from 11 ODIs, including two five-wicket hauls.
The fast-bowling duo of Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf also made the cut. Afridi took 15 wickets from 6 ODIs, while Rauf claimed 13 wickets from 8 ODIs.
ICC’s ODI Team of the Year:
Saim Ayub (Pakistan), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan), Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka), Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka, wicketkeeper), Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka, captain), Sherfane Rutherford (West Indies), Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan), Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan), Haris Rauf (Pakistan), M. Ghazanfar (Afghanistan).
