Wow! What a year for Pakistani cricket fans out there because it has been a rollercoaster ride for the players because of the way they shifted the whole planet towards them its incredible.
In the ICC awards, Pakistani players nailed it and made the nation proud by grabbing some major awards.
Babar Azam Pakistani skipper who bagged some outstanding records last year, also made history in ICC awards 2022. Not only him, the underdog who rose from the ashes and stood like a wall in front of every bowler.
Mohammed Rizwan also managed to pick up a major award and last but not least Shaheen Afridi also secured an award as well.
ICC Awards 2022 – Pakistani players everywhere
No one ever imagined that Pakistani players will dominate in ICC awards and over the ranking too. Babar Azam one of the finest batsmen and the most successful captain of Pakistan created history.
He became the first and only Pakistani player to win the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year Award. He has beaten Shakib al Hasan, Janneman Malan, and Paul Sterling.
Along with him in the shorter format, Mohammed Rizwan ruled the side for winning the T20 Player of the year award and enjoying the moment. But it was surprising when ICC announced Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for player of the year and praised the player with lauded words. Shaheen Shah Afridi bagged the precious award.
ICC praising Shaheen Shah Afridi
ICC in a statement said, “on fire throughout 2021, knocking some of the best batters over across all three formats of the game”.
“He especially had a year to remember in Tests and T20Is, reaching his peak during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in UAE where he impressed one and all with his sheer speed and skills,”
They have even further praised him especially for his remarkable and unforgettable spell against India in T20 World Cup. “A high-pressure encounter against India in Dubai beckoned in October.
The T20 World Cup tournament opener for both sides with the history well and truly against Pakistan. But Afridi’s opening burst changed it all and evoked audible gasps from one and all at the wizardry on display,” the ICC said. “The numbers (3/31) simply do not do justice to what everyone witnessed from Afridi on that fateful day in Dubai.”
Moreover, “he ruled the shortest format throughout the calendar year, scalping 23 wickets in 21 matches with his death bowling improving by leaps and bounds,” the cricket’s governing body said.
On fire in the test – ICC
ICC didn’t stop or hesitated to appreciate Shaheen’s test performance too. “After a slow start to the year in Test cricket in New Zealand, Afridi burst to life during the home series against South Africa.
He continued his brilliant form throughout the rest of the year in the away tours of Zimbabwe, West Indies, and Bangladesh. Overall, he claimed 47 wickets in only nine matches at a staggering average of 17.06.”
“Swing, seam, sheer pace, and sizzling yorkers – Shaheen Shah Afridi gave an exhibition of it all in the year 2021.”
Lone Wolf
The skipper Babar Azam also showcased his outstanding performance in 2021, especially being the first captain to beat India in the ICC world cup campaign. ICC also praised the lone wolf for his exceptional innings throughout 2021.
ICC stated, “The architect of Pakistan’s chase of 274 in the first ODI, Babar made a century and laid the foundation with an 82-ball 94 in the final ODI where the visitors posted 320 batting first.”
“Walking in to bat early in the innings, Babar strung a 92-run stand with Imamul Haq to bail Pakistan out of trouble. He was cautious in his approach initially, bringing up his half-century in 72 balls. He made up for it by bringing up the next fifty runs in just 32 balls — it was his second ODI century of the year.
“With the milestone out of the way, he exploded in the death overs and almost batted through the innings, getting out in the last over for 158, his highest-ever ODI score,” the ICC said.
Further ICC said that “Babar Azam might have played only six ODIs in 2021, but he made vital contributions in the two series that Pakistan played this year.”
Full list of ICC Awards winners
- Babar Azam – ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year
- Mohammed Rizwan – Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year
- Tammy Beaumont – Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year
- Janneman Malan – Emerging Cricketer of the Year
- Fatima Sana – Women’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year
- Zeeshan Maqsood – Associate Cricketer of the Year
- Andrea-Mae Zepeda – Women’s Associate Cricketer of the Year
- Shaheen Shah Afridi – Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy
No one can raise any question on the winners, especially on Pakistani players because everyone has witnessed what they have showcased throughout last year.
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