Babar Azam named captain of ICC ODI Team of the Year, no Indians in this one too!

Dubai: The International Cricket Council on Thursday revealed the ICC Men's ODI Team of the Year and Pakistan's Babar Azam has been named as the captain of the team.

The team includes the players from Ireland, South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The ICC Team of the Year recognises 11 outstanding individuals who have impressed one and all – be it with the bat, the ball or their all-round exploits in a calendar year.

Pakistan's skipper Azam, despite having played only six matches in 2021, still managed to score 405 runs at an average of 67.50 with including two centuries.

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

Proteas batter Janneman Malan established himself as a vital part of the South African top-order, earning a deserved place in the ICC Men's ODI Team of the Year. Malan scored 509 runs in eight matches at an average of 84.83 with two centuries and two half-centuries.

Pakistan's Fakhar Zaman scored 365 runs at an average of 60.83 with two centuries in six matches during the calendar year 2021.

The South African middle-order batter Rassie van der Dussen continued to be a pillar of rock for the Proteas in the 50-over format. He has scored 342 runs in 8 games at an average of 57.

Bangladesh's veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan continued to showcase his class for Bangladesh in ODI's in 2021. In nine matches, he managed to score 277 runs at an average of 39.57 with two half-centuries. He also scalped 17 wickets at an average of 17.52.

Mushfiqur Rahim, wicket-keeper batter from Bangladesh played nine matches and aggregated 407 runs at an average of 58.14 with one century.

Sri Lankan bowling all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga scored 356 runs at an average of 27.38 with three half-centuries in 14 matches. He was also a constant menace with the ball, picking up 12 wickets at a miserly economy of 4.56.

The Bangladesh left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman ruled the roost in ODI cricket in 2021 with his clever variations and change of pace. Lethal up front and at the death, he scalped 18 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 21.55.

Simi Singh, the off-break Irish bowler weaved a web around his opponents and picked up 19 wickets at 20.15 in 2021 in 13 matches, which included one five-wicket haul. He also contributed 280 runs at an average of 46.66.

Dushmantha Chameera of Sri Lanka was on fire in the year 2021. Playing 14 matches, he scalped 20 wickets at an average of 29.30 with one five-wicket haul.

ODI Team of the Year: 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 (UNI)