Karachi, January 24, 2025 – Four players from Sri Lanka have made it to the prestigious ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Year 2024, with three players from Pakistan also joining the dream team. This recognition highlights their exceptional performances throughout the year, underlining the balanced mix of star power, consistency, and versatility in the team’s composition.
Pathum Nissanka of Sri Lanka stood out with an outstanding 2024, scoring 694 runs in 12 matches, including three centuries and two half-centuries. His highest score of 210* against Afghanistan in February was one of the standout performances of the year. Nissanka’s dominance at the top of the order placed him second only to his teammate Kusal Mendis, who topped the runs chart with 742 runs from 17 matches, including a superb 143 against New Zealand. Mendis’ remarkable consistency, with just one innings under 10, earned him widespread recognition and a spot in the ICC Team.
Charith Asalanka, another Sri Lankan, contributed significantly to his team’s success with 605 runs across 16 matches, alongside his leadership as captain. He scored one century and four half-centuries, playing crucial roles in series victories against Zimbabwe and India. Asalanka’s steady performances in the middle order were pivotal to Sri Lanka’s success in 2024.
Alongside these top-order batsmen, Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga demonstrated his brilliant all-round skills. He took 26 wickets in 10 matches, including an extraordinary 7/19 against Zimbabwe. Hasaranga’s brilliant bowling helped Sri Lanka dominate oppositions, as his 7-wicket haul became one of the best ODI bowling performances in history.
Sri Lanka wasn’t the only country to shine. Pakistan’s Saim Ayub was a revelation in 2024. The left-handed opener, who debuted in November, scored 515 runs across 9 matches, including three centuries. His dynamic batting was key to Pakistan’s success, with his highest score being 113. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf, both from Pakistan, were also instrumental with the ball. Afridi took 15 wickets in six matches, maintaining a remarkable bowling average, while Rauf ended the year with 13 wickets in 8 matches, including a match-winning 5-wicket haul in Australia.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz of Afghanistan, with 531 runs and 3 centuries, and Azmatullah Omarzai, the Afghan all-rounder, with 417 runs and 17 wickets, were also part of the dream team. Gurbaz’s powerful hitting and Omarzai’s versatility with both bat and ball made them invaluable contributors to Afghanistan’s strong year.
The ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Year 2024 represents the finest cricket talent from across the globe, with players like Nissanka, Mendis, and Hasaranga showing that Sri Lanka is once again a force to be reckoned with in international cricket.
