The ICC Awards 2024 have announced their Men's ODI Team of the Year, and surprisingly, the all-star lineup features no Indian players. However, the subcontinent dominates the list, with four players from Sri Lanka, three each from Pakistan and Afghanistan, and one from the West Indies. (More Cricket News)
Sri Lanka's Charith Asalanka has been named captain of the XI following an extraordinary season. He played 16 ODIs in 2024, scoring 605 runs at an impressive average of 50.2, including a century and four fifties.
The reason behind Sri Lanka's domination can be attributed to their active schedule, playing 18 ODIs in 2024—the highest among all teams—and winning 12 of them.
Pakistan also had a commendable year in the 50-over format, securing seven victories in nine ODI appearances. Meanwhile, Afghanistan achieved eight wins out of their 14 ODIs.
The only player outside the Asian continent who made it to the lineup is West Indies' big-hitting Sherfane Rutherford. Making his international debut in 2023, he scored 425 runs in nine games at a staggering average of 106.2.
The absence of any Indian players in the ICC XI, however, comes as a surprise, especially for a cricketing powerhouse like India featuring stars like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya and more. The reason could be attributed to their limited ODI engagements in 2024.
India played only three ODIs, all in an away series against Sri Lanka, where they lost two and tied the third.
On the other hand, Indian women made their mark in the ICC Women's ODI Team of the Year, with Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma earning well-deserved spots.
ICC Men's ODI Team of the Year for 2024:
Charith Asalanka (C) (Sri Lanka), Saim Ayub (Pakistan), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan), Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka), Kusal Mendis (WK) (Sri Lanka), Sherfane Rutherford (West Indies), Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan), Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan), Haris Rauf (Pakistan), AM Ghazanfar (Afghanistan).
Check the full ICC Awards 2024 HERE.
