Historic moment for Afghanistan ahead of Champions Trophy 2025 as Azmatullah Omarzai becomes their first player to bag this massive award

Young all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai has become the first Afghan player to earn the title of International Cricket Council's (ICC) Men's Cricketer of the Year in the One-Day International (ODI) format. Although Rashid Khan was the 2020 Men's T20I Cricketer of the Decade winner, Omarzai is the first cricketer from his nation to win the annual award in any format. In 14 games, Omarzai amassed 417 runs at an average of 52 and a strike rate of 105. In 2024, he recorded a century and three fifties. In 14 games, he also took 17 wickets, including two four-wicket hauls, making him one of the format's top wicket-takers.

Earlier this month, the ICC ODI Team of the Year was unveiled, and Omarzai was one of three Afghan players selected. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Allah Ghazanfar were also selected for the elite squad, which was led by Charith Asalanka of Sri Lanka.

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Omarzai, who excelled in four straight series wins against Ireland, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe, was instrumental in Afghanistan's incredible ODI run in 2024. The 24-year-old helped Afghanistan win a historic series win in Sharjah with a remarkable 80-ball 86 against South Africa after starting the year with an unbeaten 149 against Sri Lanka in Kandy.

Omarzai, a frequent player in the top T20 tournaments, participated in his first Indian Premier League (IPL) season with the Gujarat Titans. He has been purchased at the mega auction for Rs 2.4 crore and will play for the Punjab Kings in the 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League.

ICC Men's ODI Team of the Year

Saim Ayub, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (WK), Charith Asalanka (C), Sherfane Rutherford, Azmatullah Omarzai, Wanindu Hasaranga, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Allah Ghazanfar.