Pakistan bowling stars Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali and middle-order batsman Fawad Alam featured in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test Team of the Year 2021.
The ICC Team of the Year recognises 11 outstanding individuals who have impressed one and all – be it with the bat, the ball or their all-round exploits in a calendar year.
Here, we take a look at 11 players who make the cut in the longest format of the game for men’s cricket.
Here's your 2021 ICC Men's Test Team of the Year 📝
Are your favourite players a part of the XI? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/GrfiaNDkpx
— ICC (@ICC) January 20, 2022
Fawad Alam (Pakistan)
At the age of 36, Fawad Alam has finally established himself as a cornerstone of the Pakistan batting lineup in Test cricket after years of toling on the domestic circuit. He was at his sturdy best in 2021, scoring 571 runs in 9 matches at an average of 57.10 with three centuries. His tons came in tough situations against South Africa, Zimbabwe and West Indies.
Hasan Ali (Pakistan)
Hasan Ali always delivered with the ball for Pakistan in 2021, be it as a strike bowler or when it came to holding one end up. By far his best year in the longest format, Ali scalped up 41 wickets in 9 matches at a sensational average of 16.07. He also picked up one five-wicket haul and registered best bowling figures in a match of 10/114. Forming a formidable duo with Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan will hope he carries on his form in 2022 with some tough assignments awaiting them.
Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
It was a year for remember for Shaheen Afridi, especially in the longest form of the game. Extracting brilliant movement with the new ball and reversing it with the old, Afridi picked up 47 wickets in 9 matches at an average of 17.06, including three five-wicket hauls. Still only 21, Shaheen will likely lead the Pakistan pace bowling unit for years to come and with already rapid improvements in his bowling, he will undoubtedly prove to be a fearsome prospect.
The other members of the team are include Dimuth Karunaratne (Sri Lanka), Rohit Sharma (India), Marnus Labuschagne (Australia), Joe Root (England), Kane Williamson (c) (New Zealand), Rishabh Pant (wk) (India), Ravichandran Ashwin (India) and Kyle Jamieson (New Zealand).
