Azmatullah Omarzai Named ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year, Marking Afghan Cricket Milestone
Azmatullah Omarzai’s Breakthrough: Afghanistan’s First ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year
No Afghan cricketer had ever come close to bagging the ICC Cricketer of the Year award—until Azmatullah Omarzai bulldozed through that ceiling in 2024. At just 24, Omarzai turned in a stunning all-round performance over the ODI calendar, landing him not only the title but a place in history for Afghan cricket. For a nation where the sport is still carving its place, his achievement means more than just personal glory—it’s now a beacon for Afghanistan’s new generation of cricketers.
Let’s break down what made his year so extraordinary. In 14 One Day Internationals, Omarzai racked up 417 runs—no mean feat for anyone, let alone an emerging all-rounder. But it’s the average of 52.12 that catches the eye, showing not just flashes of brilliance but real consistency. The headline act? That unbeaten 149 against Sri Lanka in Pallekele. It was a career-best knock, the kind of innings that silences home crowds and electrifies fans watching miles away.
Omarzai didn’t just shine with the bat. Ball in hand, he was relentless—snagging 17 wickets at only 20.47 apiece. His destruction of Zimbabwe with figures of 4 for 18 is just one example of his knack for making the breakthrough when it counts. Those numbers put him just behind Rahmanullah Gurbaz in runs and AM Ghazanfar in wickets, showing he’s right up there with the best in his national side.
Champion on the International and Domestic Stage
This isn’t a story of overnight success. Omarzai debuted for Afghanistan in January 2021 and was on the squad list for the 2023 Cricket World Cup. Each tournament, he’s brought more polish to his game. Dig a layer deeper, and you’ll spot his impact back home too. The Afghanistan Premier League and Shpageeza Cricket League saw him named player of the tournament in 2020. Those domestic leagues don’t have the glitz of some of their global counterparts, but they’re producing world-class talent—Omarzai proving to be the most shining example.
Afghanistan’s recent ODI year wasn’t just about one player, but no one did more to put wins on the board. The team captured four of five series—an incredible leap for a cricketing nation that, just a decade ago, seemed miles away from the big stage. Omarzai’s influence, both on and off the field, is now clear. He was quick to point out the wider impact, saying the award will be “a matter of great happiness” not just for himself, but for every young Afghan dreaming with a bat and ball.
His story isn’t just about runs, wickets, or trophies. It’s the sign that Afghanistan is not just participating, but threatening to win, and that cricket could be a source of hope and pride in a country that badly needs both. When Afghan children look at international cricket, they now see one of their own at the very top.