Pakistan’s batting maestro, Babar Azam, has earned a prestigious nomination for the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year Award for 2024.
The announcement, made on Sunday, sees Babar vying for the title alongside three other prolific cricketers: Arshdeep Singh of India, Travis Head of Australia, and Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza.
Babar Azam, one of the most stylish and consistent batters in T20 cricket, had a somewhat mixed year but still managed to make his mark. Despite being far from his brilliant best, Babar still set several records during 2024. In 24 T20I matches, the former top-ranked batter scored 738 runs at an average of 33.54. His tally included six half-centuries and close to 100 boundaries, highlighting his ability to maintain consistency across formats.
One of Babar’s most memorable performances came during Pakistan’s three-match series against Ireland, where he blasted 75 runs off just 42 balls. His explosive knock included six fours and five sixes, and he maintained an impressive strike rate of 178.57. Notably, Babar Azam also made significant strides in his strike rate, increasing it to 133.21—an encouraging sign for Pakistan’s future in the T20 format.
| Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 0s | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | 23 | 1 | 738 | 75 | 33.54 | 554 | 133.21 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 76 | 20 |
India’s Arshdeep Singh has been a standout performer with the ball in 2024, taking 36 wickets in 18 matches at a remarkable average of 13.5.
Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza has earned his third consecutive nomination for the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year Award, an impressive feat in itself.
Australia’s Travis Head, after finally securing a regular spot in the T20I lineup, had a stellar year with the bat, scoring 539 runs in just 15 matches at an average of 38.5.