MM News

KARACHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has named Pakistan’s Nida Dar as member of its Women’s T20I Team of the Year 2022.

Also read: Nida Dar seeks more opportunities for Pak players at international & domestic level

The names, revealed on Monday (Jan 23), also include Four Indian cricketers and three Australian stars. New Zealand skipper, Sophie Devine, is named as the captain of the 11 exceptional players in 2022.

Also read: Pakistan’s Nida Dar in ICC Women’s T20I Player Rankings

With 15 wickets at an average of 18.33 and an economy rate of 5.50 in T20Is in 2022, Pakistan’s veteran off-spinner Nida Dar enjoyed one of the best bowling years in her career. Dar went wicketless in only three of her 14 T20Is, playing a pivotal role every time she came to bowl. The all-rounder’s best came against arch-rivals India in the Women’s Asia Cup when she made 56* off 37 balls with the bat before taking 2/23 with the ball to win the Player of the Match award as Pakistan notched up a rare win over India.

Also read: Nida Dar, Mohammad Rizwan among ICC T20I cricketer of year nominees

The off-spinner took 29 wickets in the year, the joint-third-highest by any bowler in women’s T20Is. Averaging 18.55 with the ball, Deepti also bowled at an economy rate of just over six, while also fulfilling batting duties pretty well.

She made 370 runs for the year with the bat in T20Is, averaging 37 while striking at a rate of 136.02, considerably higher than her career strike rate of 106.39 in the format. Her 13 wickets in the Women’s Asia Cup in Bangladesh made her the Player of the Tournament. She set the tone in the final against Sri Lanka, bowling a miserly spell of 4-0-7-0 after taking the new ball.

Also read: Pakistan’s Nida Dar named ICC Women’s Player of Month for October 2022

Nida Dar has been named in the ICC T20 Women’s Team of the year for the second time, as she was included in the team in 2019 as well.

ICC Women’s T20I Team of the Year 2022: Smriti Mandhana (India), Beth Mooney (Australia), Sophie Devine (New Zealand & Captian), Ashleigh Gardner (Australia), Tahlia McGrath (Australia), Nida Dar (Pakistan), Deepti Sharma (India), Richa Ghosh (India), Sophie Ecclestone (England), Inoka Ranaweera (Sri Lanka), Renuka Singh (India)