ICC announce Men’s ODI team of the year 2021

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced its Men’s ODI team for the year 2021. No Indian players have been included in the team. To everyone’s surprise, Pakistan’s explosive opening batter Fakhar Zaman is slated at number four. He hasn’t batted at that position in his ODI career. The opening pair in the team is Paul Stirling and Janneman Malan. These players open the innings for Ireland and South Africa respectively.

The skipper of the team is Babar Azam, who also leads Pakistan in all formats of the game. Proteas batter Rassie van der Dussen has also made it to the eleven. Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and wicketkeeper batter Mushfiqur Rahim have also been included in the side.

Wanindu Hasarnaga from Sri Lanka, Mustafizur Rahman from Bangladesh, Simi Singh from Ireland, and Dushmantha Chamera from Sri Lanka complete the playing XI. The only reason for no India player being included in the team is believed the team to have played fewer ODIs than other teams. India played only three ODIs each against England and Sri Lanka in the calendar year.

ODI numbers of the players included in the ICC Men’s team of the year

Paul Stirling (Ireland)

With 705 runs, Paul Stirling finished 2021 as the highest run-scorer in ODIs in 2021. His runs came in only 14 matches at an average of 79.66 with three centuries and two half-centuries.

Janneman Malan (South Africa)

Malan scored 509 runs in eight matches at an average of 84.83 with two centuries and two half-centuries.

Babar Azam (c) (Pakistan)

Despite having played the same number of matches as India, he still managed to score 405 runs at an average of 67.50 with two centuries.

Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan)

Playing only six games, he aggregated 365 runs at an average of 60.83 with two centuries. His best score of the year 193 came against South Africa where he almost took Pakistan home while chasing 342 in Johannesburg.

Rassie van der Dussen (South Africa)

Dussen scored 342 runs in 8 games at an average of 57. He also had a ton to his name which came against Pakistan in Centurion.

Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh)

In nine matches, he managed to score 277 runs at an average of 39.57 with two half-centuries. He also scalped up 17 wickets at an average of 17.52.

Mushfiqur Rahim (wk) (Bangladesh)

Playing 9 matches, he aggregated 407 runs at an average of 58.14 with one century.

Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka)

He scored 356 runs at an average of 27.38 with three half-centuries in 14 matches. The leg-spinner picked up 12 wickets at a miserly economy of 4.56.

Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh)

The Bangladesh left-arm seamer scalped 18 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 21.55. His economy rate was 5.03.

Simi Singh (Ireland)

The off-break bowler picked up 19 wickets at 20.15 in 2021 in 13 matches, which included one five-for. He also contributed 280 runs at 46.66, which included one century and one half-century.

Dushmantha Chameera (Sri Lanka)

Chameera played 14 matches and scalped 20 wickets at an average of 29.30 with one five-wicket haul.

ICC Men’s ODI Team of 2021: Paul Stirling, Janneman Malan, Babar Azam (C), Fakhar Zaman Rassie Van Der Dussen, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (WK), Wanindu Hasaranga, Mustafizur Rahman, Simi Singh, Dushmantha Chameera