Afghanistan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai has won the ICC Men's ODI Cricketer of the Year award for 2024. In doing so, he outsmarted three strong contenders in the shape of the West Indies' Sherfane Rutherford and Sri Lankan duo of Kusal Mendis and Wanindu Hasaranga.
In the process, Omarzai has also become the first player from Afghanistan to win this coveted honour, after previously bagging a spot in the Men's ODI Team of the Year. In 2024, Omarzai was Afghanistan's second-highest ODI run scorer with 417 runs at an average of 52.12.
He was the second-highest wicket taker for Afghanistan in the 50-over format behind AM Ghazanfar, picking 17 wickets in 14 games at an average of 20.47 as the side won four out of their five ODI series in the calendar year.
Omarzai, 24, was the big noise in his first ODI of the year, where he smashed an unbeaten 149 in a remarkable rearguard effort in Afghanistan's defeat against Sri Lanka. Another memorable performance of his was a destructive 86 not out from just 50 deliveries against South Africa, as his rapid knock helped set up Afghanistan's crushing win in the second ODI to win the series.
But his most notable innings came in the third ODI against Bangladesh in Sharjah in November 2024. The way he bowled economically, delivering a death-overs masterclass, including castling set batter Mehidy Hasan Miraz to pick figures of 4-37 from seven overs and deny Bangladesh the strong finish they were seeking in their innings.
Afghanistan were in trouble at 84/3 with the task of chasing 245 to win the match and series when Omarzai came to the crease. He won his team the game and series by building a century-long partnership with Gurbaz and accelerated with ease after he was dismissed. Eventually, Omarzai hit the winning runs with a massive six to finish unbeaten on 70 from 77 balls, and close the chase for Afghanistan with ten deliveries to spare.
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