Emerging all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai has made history as the first Afghanistan cricketer to be awarded the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Cricketer of the Year in the One Day International (ODI) category. Although Rashid Khan received the Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Decade award in 2020, Omarzai stands out as the first player from Afghanistan to win a yearly award in any format.
In 2024, Omarzai showcased his skills by scoring 417 runs in 14 matches, boasting an impressive strike rate of 105 and an average of 52. His standout performances included one century and three half-centuries. Additionally, he was a key bowler, taking 17 wickets, with two of those being four-wicket hauls.
Earlier this month, Omarzai’s exceptional contributions earned him a spot on the ICC ODI Team of the Year, where he was joined by fellow Afghans Allah Ghazanfar and Rahmanullah Gurbaz. The team was led by Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka.
The full ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Year includes: Saim Ayub, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (WK), Charith Asalanka (C), Sherfane Rutherford, Azmatullah Omarzai, Wanindu Hasaranga, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Allah Ghazanfar.
Omarzai played a vital role in Afghanistan’s impressive performances in ODIs throughout 2024, helping secure victories in four consecutive series against teams like Ireland, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe.
The 24-year-old began the year with a remarkable unbeaten score of 149 against Sri Lanka and followed it up with a notable innings of 86 runs off 80 balls against South Africa, which guided Afghanistan to a historic series win in Sharjah.
In addition to his international success, Omarzai participated in the Indian Premier League (IPL) this year with the Gujarat Titans. He has now been signed by Punjab Kings for the IPL 2025 season, fetching a price of Rs 2.4 crore at the auction.
