Babar nominated for top ICC T20I award

He had a mixed year with the bat scoring 738 runs in 24 matches

Pakistan's star batter, Babar Azam, has been named as one of the four nominees for the ICC Men's T20I Cricketer of the Year Award.

The announcement was made on Sunday, with the other contenders being India's Arshdeep Singh, Australia's Travis Head, and Zimbabwe's Sikandar Raza.

Babar, a former top-ranked T20I batter, had a mixed year with the bat but still managed to score 738 runs in 24 matches. His runs came at an average of 33.54, including six half-centuries. He also hit nearly 100 boundaries, showcasing his consistency.

One of Babar's standout performances was in the three-match series against Ireland, where he smashed 75 runs off 42 balls. With six fours and five sixes, he maintained an impressive strike rate of 178.57. This year also marked an improvement in his overall strike rate, which rose to 133.21.

India's Arshdeep Singh had a remarkable year with the ball, taking 36 wickets in 18 matches at an average of 13.5. His best figures of 4/9 came in crucial matches, including the T20 World Cup final against South Africa, where his death bowling helped India secure the title.

Zimbabwe's Sikandar Raza earned his third consecutive nomination for the award. He scored 573 runs in 24 matches, with a top score of 133 not out during Zimbabwe's unbeaten run in the T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier. Raza also excelled with the ball, claiming 24 wickets with best figures of 5/18.

Australia's Travis Head, after finally securing a regular spot in the T20I lineup, proved his worth with 539 runs in 15 matches at an average of 38.5. His highest score of 80 contributed to his strike rate of 178.47, the second-best for an Australian batter in a calendar year.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's aggressive opener, Saim Ayub, has been nominated for the prestigious ICC Men's Emerging Cricketer of the Year award.

Ayub showcased outstanding performances during tours of Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, scoring 515 runs in just nine ODI matches.

His tally included three centuries and one half-century, highlighting his potential as a dominant batter.

Other nominees include England's Gus Atkinson, Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis, and West Indies' Shamar Joseph. Atkinson claimed 52 wickets in 11 matches, Mendis amassed 1,451 runs in 32 games, and Joseph took 29 wickets in eight Test matches.

The ICC will honour top performers in various categories for the year 2024, with the announcement of nominations continuing until December 30. Winners in 12 categories will be revealed by the end of January 2025.