Esha Oza Clinches ICC Women’s Associate Cricketer of the Year Award for 2024
Dubai, UAE – Esha Oza, the captain of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) women’s cricket team, has been named the ICC Women’s Associate Cricketer of the Year for 2024, following a remarkable string of performances that captivated the cricket world.
Oza’s stellar contributions with both bat and ball saw her stand out as one of the finest cricketers in the Associate ranks over the past calendar year. As the driving force behind UAE’s success, she played an instrumental role in several major tournaments, leaving an indelible mark on her team’s campaign.
The year kicked off with a bang for Oza and the UAE squad, as they triumphed in the Asian Cricket Council Women’s Premier Cup. Oza finished as the leading scorer of the tournament and was named Player of the Tournament, a testament to her consistency and poise under pressure. She would go on to replicate her form later in the year, delivering a series of high-impact performances in the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier, where UAE made it to the knockout stages.
One of Oza’s standout moments came during the Qualifier, where her brilliant 66* from just 39 balls helped her side overcome the Netherlands, securing a top-two finish in a competitive Group B. Her leadership was again on display in the semi-finals, where Oza almost engineered an unforgettable upset, scoring 66 from 44 balls against Sri Lanka – the eventual champions of the tournament.
Though her batting prowess earned her the most attention in 2024, Oza’s skills with the ball were just as vital. She took 16 wickets at an impressive average of 19.68, showcasing her off-breaks as an important weapon for the UAE. She maintained a solid economy rate of 5.41, further underlining her well-rounded abilities as an all-rounder.
With a total of 711 runs in 2024, Oza’s name appeared near the top of the global run-scorer charts, with only Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu (720 runs) and India’s Smriti Mandhana (763 runs) outpacing her. Oza’s remarkable consistency was evident as she reached double figures in 19 of her 20 innings, including one century and four half-centuries. She finished the year with an average of 41.82 and a striking rate of 111.79, making her one of the most dynamic batters in the game.
Oza’s crowning moment came in the Women’s Premier Cup, where she produced a magnificent 114* off just 69 balls against Oman. Her blistering knock included 16 boundaries, and it was pivotal in UAE’s dominant 148-run victory. This was her third century in international cricket and her highest score of an impressive year.
Esha Oza’s performance in 2024 is a testament to her leadership, skill, and determination, and her achievement of being named ICC Women’s Associate Cricketer of the Year is well-deserved. As she continues to lead the UAE women’s cricket team to greater heights, her contributions will undoubtedly inspire future generations of cricketers in the region.
