On Monday, January 27, 2025, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the winner of the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2024. Afghanistan all-rounder Azmatullah earned the honor for his exceptional performances, which played a key role in his team’s impressive series victories against Bangladesh and South Africa over the past year.
Azmatullah Omarzai scored 417 ODI runs in 2024.
In 2024, Test cricket and T20Is dominated the spotlight, while the 50-over format took a backseat. Major Test-playing nations prioritized preparations for the ICC Men’s T20I World Cup in June, followed by a renewed focus on Test cricket to secure a place in the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 final.
Afghanistan had a breakthrough year in 2024. The underdog Asian team made history by reaching the T20 World Cup semi-finals, defeating heavyweights like Australia along the way. Their ODI performances were equally remarkable, with young talents such as Azmatullah Omarzai and AM Ghazanfar spearheading memorable series victories across the globe.
Azmatullah Omarzai’s standout performances in 2024
Azmatullah Omarzai had an exceptional 2024, establishing himself as a key player for Afghanistan in ODIs. Batting in the middle order, the 24-year-old finished as Afghanistan’s second-highest run-scorer after Rahmanullah Gurbaz and second-highest wicket-taker behind AM Ghazanfar.
Omarzai amassed 417 runs at an impressive average of 50.02 and claimed 17 wickets at an average of 20 in 14 ODIs. He played a pivotal role in Afghanistan’s four ODI series victories during the year.
His standout batting performances included a career-best unbeaten 149 against Sri Lanka, though in a losing cause, and a blazing 86 off 50 balls against South Africa, which helped Afghanistan secure a memorable win. With the ball, Omarzai’s match-winning 4/37, including three crucial late wickets, sealed the series decider against Bangladesh in Sharjah.
In an interview with the ICC, Omarzai expressed pride in winning the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2024 award. He stated, “I am feeling very excited and proud to win this award. It’s a big achievement for me and my country, and I hope it inspires more kids to dream and play cricket.”
Looking ahead to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Afghanistan finds itself in a challenging group with Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand. The team will heavily rely on Omarzai’s all-round brilliance to advance to the knockout stages.
Afghanistan’s campaign kicks off against South Africa on February 21, followed by England on February 26 and Australia on February 28.