Babar Azam nominated for ICC ODI ‘Player of the Year’ award

DUBAI: Pakistan skipper captain Babar Azam has been nominated for the ICC Men's ODI Player of the Year.

The other three players nominated for the award are Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh, Paul Stirling of Ireland and Janneman Malan of South Africa, according to an announcement by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The ICC described the list as one that includes a "talismanic all-rounder, two dashing openers and the top-ranked batter in the 50-over format".

Shakib Al Hasan

The Bangladeshi all-rounder scored 277 runs in nine matches at an average of 39.57 with two fifties and also bagged 17 wickets at an average of 17.52.

His memorable performance was against Zimbabwe when he came to his team's rescue both with the bat and the ball in the second ODI at Harare.

Babar Azam

The star batter played only six matches in 2021 but was in his prime form throughout the year. He scored 405 runs in six matches at an average of 67.50 with two centuries.

Babar Azam's best performance this year came in a losing cause in the final ODI against England when he scored close to 50% of the team's runs.

Janneman Malan

The South Africa cricketer has scored 509 runs in eight matches at an average of 84.83 with two centuries and two half-centuries in the outgoing year.

Paul Stirling

The fourth player, nominated for the coveted award, Paul Stirling  scored 705 runs in 14 matches at an average of 79.66 with three centuries and two half-centuries.