Afghanistan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai has been crowned the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2024, a testament to his stellar performances with both bat and ball throughout the year. The announcement was made by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday.
At just 24 years old, Omarzai has established himself as one of the premier talents in One-Day Internationals, showcasing remarkable consistency and impact. Building on his strong 2023, Omarzai’s 2024 statistics are nothing short of impressive.
He amassed 417 runs in 14 matches, maintaining an exceptional batting average of 52.12. With the ball, he was equally effective, claiming 17 wickets at an average of 20.47. This made him Afghanistan’s second-highest run-scorer and wicket-taker of the year.
Omarzai played a pivotal role in Afghanistan’s four consecutive ODI series wins against Ireland, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe. Among his standout performances were a magnificent unbeaten 149 in a close contest against Sri Lanka and a blistering 86 not out off just 50 balls in a series-clinching victory over South Africa.
In addition to his individual accolade, Omarzai was named in the ICC ODI Team of the Year alongside teammate AM Ghazanfar, who led Afghanistan’s bowling with 21 wickets.
Afghanistan’s success in 2024, which included eight wins out of 14 ODIs, was significantly fueled by Omarzai’s contributions. His all-round brilliance has firmly positioned him as one of cricket’s brightest young stars, with immense potential to dominate the international stage for years to come.
