Four Sri Lankan cricketers have been named in the ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Year for 2024.

Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka leads the team, with Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, and Wanindu Hasaranga as the remaining Sri Lankan cricketers in the team.

Describing the Sri Lankan cricketers, the ICC shares; 

-Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka)

12 Matches, 694 Runs, 210 Highest Score, 63.1 Average, 106.4 Strike Rate, 3 Centuries, 2 Half-Centuries

Nissanka’s 210* in February against Afghanistan was the 6th-highest score by an opener in ODI history, setting up his strong season for the Lions.

Much of his production came in the front half of the year, tonning up twice when Afghanistan toured and then again in Bangladesh in March.

Nissanka scored the second-most One-Day International runs in 2024, behind only team-mate Kusal Mendis.

-Kusal Mendis (WK) (Sri Lanka)

17 Matches, 742 Runs, 143 Highest Score, 53 Average, 90.6 Strike Rate, 1 Century, 6 Half-Centuries

Mendis’ 742 runs were the most scored of any player in ODIs in 2024. His highest score, a 143 against New Zealand in November, was the 27th-highest total by a wicketkeeper in ODI history.

He finished the calendar year with a bang, notching up a total of 217 runs in Sri Lanka’s two ODIs against the Black Caps.

Mendis’ consistency was undeniable, only failing to reach double figures once from 17 innings.

-Charith Asalanka (C) (Sri Lanka)

16 Matches, 605 Runs, 101 Highest Score, 50.2 Average, 97.1 Strike Rate, 1 Century, 4 Half-Centuries

Sri Lankans scoring ODI runs was undoubtedly a theme in 2024, with Asalanka being no exception.

He started the year with a ton against Zimbabwe, his only century of the calendar year, but proceeded to contribute handsomely with the bat, reaching 50 on four separate occasions – two of those scores in the 90s.

Asalanka also took three wickets in two of Sri Lanka’s three series games against India.

-Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka)

10 Matches, 26 Wickets, 15.6 Bowling Average, 7/19 Best Bowling

Hasaranga’s 7/19 against Zimbabwe in January is the fifth-best return in an innings in ODI history, joining an elite club of bowlers that have taken seven scalps in a match.

He averaged 2.6 wickets per game in 2024 and kept his bowling average well under 20.

Read more ; https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/breakout-stars-spearhead-icc-men-s-odi-team-of-the-year-for-2024 (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka has rated his match-winning 47-ball 49 not out as the second best knock of his career after helping Sri Lanka beat Pakistan in a last-ball thriller to set-up the Asia Cup final clash against India. 

Asalanka kept his cool despite a mini batting collapse in the back end as Sri Lanka chased down a target of 252 in the final delivery.

“I just thought how can I get two to hit a gap and run hard because it is a big field and just told Pathirana to run hard,” he said after the match.

“I thought either he would bowl a bouncer or a yorker and then he bowled a slower ball, so it was on my side. I am very excited.

“Mendis and Sadeera batted really well. I wanted to finish. That is my role. I can rank this innings second place in my book,” he added.

Kusal Mendis set up the chase with an 87-ball 91 and shared a 100-run stand with Sadeera Samarawickrama (48).

“Happy with my performance, happy to get to the final,” said Mendis, who was adjudged the Player of the Match.

“Those two wickets fell down and we were nervous, but with Charith in the middle we had hope. He’s done this in one game against Afghanistan. I think we also bowled really well, so happy to be in the final.

“Wanindu, Kumara and Dusmantha are main bowlers, but we have these bowlers who are bowling well. This is a young unit.”

Dasun Shanaka, the Sri Lanka captain, hailed his team for reaching back-to-back finals.

“We had the game under control, but the losing of wickets took it till the last over. We gave them a chance to come back in the game, but we knew Charith could get us home,” he said.

“We had a discussion before batting and we discussed the mistakes we made in the India game. We gave away wickets in the first 10 overs, and Kusal and Sadeera played brilliant knocks.

“I think they are the best spin players in the Sri Lanka squad. And Charith, he showed great character. Special feeling, back to back finals.”

Pakistan captain Babar Azam was disappointed with his bowlers’ performance in the 2-wicket loss to Sri Lanka.

“Sri Lanka played very well, better cricket than us. We have not been up to the mark in bowling and fielding. That is why we lost the match,” he said.

“In the middle overs, we did not bowl well. That partnership cost us. We started well, ended well, but the middle overs were not great. We have lacked that.” (India Today)

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