Pakistan’s Babar Azam named as leader of ICC ODI Team of 2021

The international cricket council (ICC) announced its T20I team of the year a day ago, with Azam as captain. He also earned the honor in the 50-over format. The ICC Men’s ODI Team of 2021 will be led by Pakistan’s Babar Azam. The team also features Pakistan batter Fakhar Zaman. The side consists of two Proteas players and two Sri Lankans. Three Bangladesh players are also included. Like the ICC Men’s T20I Team of 2021, no Indian makes the Men’s ODI Team of 2021. Despite playing only six matches in 2021, Babar managed to score 405 runs with an average of 67.50 and two centuries. During Pakistan’s tough away tours of South Africa and England, the skipper was awarded Player of the Match in both victories in the former. In Birmingham, he scored a memorable ton under conditions that helped the seamers.

His fellow teammate Fakhar Zaman continued his superb form in the 2021 ODI series, In six matches, he scored 365 runs at 60.83 on the way to two centuries. It was a knock which will be remembered for ages against South Africa. Pakistan almost reached their target of 342 in Johannesburg after he scored 193. Wanindu Hasaranga also contributed with bat ball establishing himself as the superstar of Sri Lank team.  He scored 56 runs at an average of 27.38 with three half-centuries in 14 matches. Hasarang was also consistent with the ball by picking up 12 wickets at a miserly economy of 4.56.

The 11-member ODI team:-Babar Azam (c), Mushfiqur Rahim (WK.), Fakhar Zaman, Rassie van der Dussen, Shakib Al Hasan, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mustafizur Rahman, Simi Singh and Dushmantha Chameera.