NEW YORK (USA): As expected no Pakistan cricketer was chosen for the ICC Team of the T20 World Cup. Six cricketers from India made it.
Pakistan failed to qualify even for the Super Eight which turned out to be the main reason of no representation even in the 12-member team. South Africa, the losing finalists, also do not have any player in the team. Anrich Nortje of South Africa is the 12th man. Champions India provide six players, including captain Rohit Sharma, who will captain this team, and Player of the Tournament Jasprit Bumrah.
Three players from Afghanistan made the cut following a breakthrough run to the semi-finals. The selection panel consisted of commentators Harsha Bhogle, Ian Bishop and Kass Naidoo and ICC General Manager of Cricket Wasim Khan.
The team of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 (in batting order) is:
1. Rohit Sharma (captain) - India
2. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper) - Afghanistan
3. Nicholas Pooran – West Indies
4. Suryakumar Yadav - India
5. Marcus Stoinis - Australia
6. Hardik Pandya - India
7. Axar Patel - India
8. Rashid Khan - Afghanistan
9. Jasprit Bumrah - India
10. Arshdeep Singha - India
11. Fazalhaq Farooqi – Afghanistan
12th player: Anrich Nortje - South Africa
Rohit Sharma will captain the team of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 after leading India to their second victory in the competition.
Sharma finished as the second top run-scorer in the competition, scoring 257 runs in eight innings. The pick of his performances came in the win over Australia, when he smashed 92, before adding 57 in the semi-final success against Australia.
He is joined at the top of the order by Afghanistan wicket-keeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the only man to outscore the Indian opener.
Rahmanullah made 281 runs as Afghanistan progressed to the semi-finals for the first time in their history, making half-centuries in three matches. His 60 against Australia proved pivotal as Afghanistan progressed from the Super 8s.
In at No.3 is Nicholas Pooran, the West Indies wicket-keeper batter, who scored 228 runs at an average of 38, including a 53-ball 98 in victory over Afghanistan. The second Indian player in the XI is Suryakumar Yadav, the hard-hitting batter rewarded for some crucial innings, notably in the semi-final against England, 47, and the Super 8s win over Afghanistan when he smashed 53 off just 28 balls.
At No.5 is the sole Australian in the team, with Marcus Stoinis included after a stellar tournament. Stoinis contributed with bat and ball, scoring his 169 runs at an average of over 40, and a strike rate in excess of 160. He also chipped in with 10 wickets across the tournament.
The next all-rounder comes from India, Hardik Pandya scoring 144 runs at an average of 48, while also picking up 11 wickets with the ball, and bowling the all-important final over to seal victory.
His teammate Axar Patel was similarly influential with bat and ball. The left-armer was promoted up the order in the final, scoring an invaluable 47, while his three for 23 helped secure victory over England in the semi-final.