Babar to lead T20I team of 2021, no Indian makes the list
Babar Azam (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Cricket’s governing body announced the T20I Team of the Year for 2021. Players who performed really well in the 20-20 World Cup 2021 find a place in this team. However, no Indian player features on this list despite the team being in the second position in the Rankings.
The list contains three players from both Pakistan and South Africa. England, which is ranked number one in the Rankings has one player on this list. Two Australian players, who were a part of the winning team during the 20-20 World Cup 202, also features on this list. The other two players are from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The team features two wicketkeepers, Jos Buttler and Mohammad Rizwan. Both the players had a terrific run in T20Is last year. Buttler made 589 runs in 14 matches at an average of 65.44. Rizwan became the first batter to score above 1000 T20I runs in a calendar year in 2021. He made 1326 runs in 29 matches at an average of 73.66. The apex body has selected Babar Azam as the captain of the T20I Team of the Year. Under, Babar’s leadership Pakistan became the only team to win 20 matches in a year. Azam made 939 runs in 29 matches at an average of 37.56 in 2021.
Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, and David Miller make the middle-order of the T20I Team of the Year. Markram played a crucial role for South Africa in the 20-20 World Cup. He made 570 runs at an average of 43.84 last year. Marsh made 627 runs in 21 matches at an average of 36.88 in 2021. Marsh made 77 not-out in the final of the World Cup last year and won the player of the match award. Miller made 377 runs in 17 matches at an average of 47.12.
Wanindu Hasaranga and Tabraiz Shamsi are the two spinners in the team. While the fast bowling department is being handled by Josh Hazlewood, Mustafizur Rahman, and Shaheen Afridi. Hasaranga picked 36 wickets in 20 matches at an average of 11.63. Shamsi is No.1 T20I bowler in Rankings and picked 36 wickets at an average of 13.36.
Hazlewood picked 23 wickets at an average of 16.34. Rahman played a crucial role for Bangladesh last year as he managed to take 28 wickets in 20 matches. Afridi was the best bowler for Pakistan across all formats. He took 23 wickets in 21 matches at an average of 26.04.
