India’s lack of international commitments in the 50-over format in 2024 had a bearing on the ICC men’s ODI Team of the Year with not a single cricketer from the country making it to the list released on Friday. The all-star team announced by the ICC features four players from Sri Lanka, three each from Pakistan and Afghanistan and one from the West Indies. India played only three ODIs — an away series against Sri Lanka –, losing two of them while the third one ended in a tie.

Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka was named skipper of the ICC team as well for his stupendous batting through the year.

In his 16 ODI appearances in 2024, Asalanka scored 605 Runs at an average of 50.2 Average, including a century and four fifties.

Sri Lanka played 18 ODIs in the year gone by, the highest among all teams, and won 12 of them.

Pakistan picked up seven victories from its nine ODI engagements, while Afghanistan won eight of their 14 one-dayers.

Big-hitting West Indian Sherfane Rutherford, who made his international debut in 2023, was the lone non-Asian in the all star XI for his 425 runs from nine games at an astonishing average of 106.2.

ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Year for 2024: Charith Asalanka (C) (Sri Lanka), Saim Ayub (Pakistan), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan), Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka), Kusal Mendis (WK) (Sri Lanka), Sherfane Rutherford (West Indies), Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan), Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan), Haris Rauf (Pakistan), AM Ghazanfar (Afghanistan).

Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I, Live Updates: The series finale is here as Zimbabwe and Afghanistan are all set to play the third and final T20I on Saturday in Harare. The three-match series is levelled 1-1 and both the teams will now be putting their best foot forward to clinch the series. After losing the first match, the visitors bounced back in style and won the second match by 50 runs. In the first T20I, Darwish Rasooli made his first international fifty while Naveen-ul-Haq and Rashid Khan each took three wickets. (Live Scorecard)

Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan 2nd T20I Live Updates: Zimbabwe will be going up against Afghanistan in the second T20I of the three-match series on Friday in Harare. After winning the first match, Zimbabwe will now aim to take an unassailable lead. Earlier, chasing 145 to win, Brian Bennett‘s run-a-ball 49 was enough to see the hosts through, but Afghanistan made life difficult by forcing the match to the very last ball. Tashinga Musekiwa and Wellington Masakadza combined to score the last 20 odd runs. (Live Scorecard)

Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan 2nd T20I LIVE Streaming: Zimbabwe are all set to face Afghanistan in the second T20I of the three-match series on Friday in Harare. Currently leading 1-0 in the series, the hosts will now look to gain an unassailable lead over the Afghans. Earlier on Wednesday, Zimbabwe won the first T20I by four wickets. Chasing 145 to win, Brian Bennett‘s run-a-ball 49 was enough to see the hosts through, but Afghanistan made life difficult by forcing the match to the very last ball.

Richard Ngarava‘s returned figures of 3/28 as Zimbabwe restricted Afghanistan to 144/6 at the Harare Sports Club.

When will the Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan 2nd T20I match take place?

The Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan 2nd T20I match will take place on Wednesday, December 13 (IST).

Where will the Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan 2nd T20I match take place?

The Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan 2nd T20I match will take place at the Harare Sports Club, Harare.

What time will the Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan 2nd T20I match start?

The Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan 2nd T20I match will start at 5:00 PM IST. The toss will take place at 4:30 PM.

Which TV channels will show the live telecast of the Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan 2nd T20I match in India?

The Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan 2nd T20I match will be not be telecasted in India.

Where to follow the live streaming of the Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan 2nd T20I match?

The Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan 2nd T20I match will be live streamed on the FanCode app and website in India.

(All details are as per information provided by the broadcaster)

Afghanistan wicket-keeper batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz scripted history on Monday as he became the second youngest player in history to reach 8 ODI centuries. Gurbaz went past some of the stalwarts of the game, like Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, and Babar Azam to script history, in the match against Bangladesh. Gurbaz was the pivotal player for his team as Afghanistan beat Bangladesh by 5 wickets in the third ODI of the series at Sharjah, scoring 101 runs off 120 balls in the match.

Gurbaz reached his 8th ODI ton at the age of 22 years and 357 days, dislodging Sachin Tendulkar from the No. 2 spot. The first spot is still held by South Africa’s Quinton de Kock who had reached the landmark at the age of 22 years and 312 days.

Tendulkar was 22 years and 357 days old when he reached his 8th ODI century while current Indian team batter Kohli did so at the age of 23 years and 27 days. Pakistan’s Babar Azam slots in at the No. 4 spot, having registered his 8th ODI ton at the age of 23 years 280 days.

Gurbaz tops the list for the most number of hundreds scored for Afghanistan in ODIs. He is followed by Mohammad Shahzad (6). The Gurbaz ton on Monday was also his third against Bangladesh, as well as the third in Sharjah in the 50-over format.

RAHMANULLAH GURBAZ – MOST HUNDREDS FOR AFGHANISTAN IN ODI HISTORY 

– Gurbaz is just 22 years old…!!!! pic.twitter.com/RKt9DaPoJd

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) November 11, 2024

Azmatullah Omarzai was adjudged Player of the Match during the third contest for his four wickets and unbeaten 70* alongside Nabi at the end of the chase, while Gurbaz found form with a blistering innings of 101 at the top of the batting order.

It was Gurbaz’s third ODI century of the year and eighth overall and helped the dashing right-hander move further ahead on the list for most ODI hundreds of any player from Afghanistan.

Ahead of the Champions Trophy event next year scheduled for February and March in Pakistan, Afghanistan will travel to Zimbabwe for a multi-format tour that includes three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Test matches in Bulawayo.

With ANI Inputs

AFG vs BAN Live Updates, 1st ODI: Afghanistan host Bangladesh in the first ODI of a three-match series in Sharjah on Wednesday, hoping to make the most of their recent form and familiarity with conditions. While Afghanistan come into this series on the back of their first bilateral ODI series win over South Africa, Bangladesh were outplayed by the same opponents in the recent two match Test series at home. While Afghanistan have adopted Sharjah as one of their home grounds, Bangladesh will be playing an ODI at this venue after a long gap of 29 years. (Live Scorecard)

Afghanistan men’s cricket team made headlines with their stunning victory against South Africa in a recently-concluded three-match ODI series. Playing in the UAE, Hashmatullah Shahidi and co edged past South Africa with 2-1 scoreline and registered a historic win. After winning the first two games convincingly, Afghanistan lost the series finale on Sunday and failed to claim a clean sweep. In the third match, the Proteas bundled out South Africa for 169 and later, chased down the target in just 33 overs with seven wickets in hand.

In the third game, the fans also saw a bizarre dismissal of Afghanistan batter Rahmat Shah. During the ninth over, Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz played a shot on a full length delivery by pacer Lungi Ngidi. The shot went towards Nigidi, who tried to grab the ball but only managed to put his fingertips on it.

This is how Rahmat Shah got out Against South Africa pic.twitter.com/kw9VSJb9sl

— Sports Production (@SportsProd37) September 22, 2024

However, that was enough as the ball got deflected towards Rahmat, who running for a single from the non-striker’s end. After the ball touched Rahmat, it went straight to the stumps and dislodged the bails. As Rahmat was out of his crease, he was declared run out and had to depart for one off six deliveries.

Talking about the match, Aiden Markram‘s calm innings helped South Africa avoid suffering a series clean sweep by Afghanistan with a seven-wicket victory in the third ODI.

The Proteas cruised to their target of 170 after bowling out their opponents cheaply thanks to an unbeaten 69 from Markram, having briefly wobbled at 80-3.

Afghanistan had already wrapped up a historic series triumph after winning the first two matches but struggled with the bat after winning the toss.

Only the in-form Rahmanullah Gurbaz put up any real fight with an excellent, 94-ball 89, but when he fell Afghanistan were 132-7.

South Africa had been bowled out for 106 and 134 in the opening two games but found life easier against an Afghan attack missing the rested Rashid Khan and Fazalhaq Farooqi.

(With AFP Inputs)