LONDON: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled its T20I team of the year with three players from Pakistan — Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi are included.
Babar Azam has been named the skipper of the ICC team for the shortest format. In a statement, the ICC said: “The Pakistan skipper was at his classy best in the shortest format in 2021, leaving his best at the T20 World Cup where he ended the tournament as the leading run-scorer.”
The ICC Men’s T20I Team of the Year certainly packs a punch ????
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— ICC (@ICC) January 19, 2022
“Overall, Babar Azam played 29 matches and aggregated 939 runs at an average of 37.56 with one century and nine half-centuries. His captaincy was also praised as he led his team to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup in UAE and Oman,” it added.
The cricket body also hailed Rizwan for his consistent performance last year. “Aggregating a staggering 1,326 runs in only 29 matches, Rizwan struck at an average of 73.66 and a strike-rate of 134.89.” The ICC also recognised the Pakistani gloveman for his contributions behind the stumps.
Following a stellar year, Pakistan’s left-arm pacer Shaheen is also included in the XI. The pacer picked up 23 wickets in 21 matches at an average of 26.04 and an economy of 7.86, the ICC said, adding that “he will undoubtedly prove to be a fearsome prospect.”
The team consists of Jos Butler, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (c), Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, David Miller, Tabraiz Shamsi, Josh Hazlewood, Wanindu Hasanranga, Mustafizur Rahman and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
