ICC announces nominees for Men's Cricketer of 2021
Dubai/UNI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) Friday announced nominations for the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy – ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year.
Pakistani cricketers Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan, England's Joe Root and Kane Williamson from New Zealand have been nominated for their achievements in 2021.
Pace bowler Afridi has claimed 78 wickets in 36 internationals at an average of 22.20, with the best bowling figures of 6/51 during his stint this year.
The bowling sensation reached his peak during the T20 World Cup in the UAE where he impressed everyone with his fierce bowling abilities.
Afridi scalped seven wickets during six matches in Pakistan's run to the T20 semi-final.
Wicket-keeper batsman Rizwan has scored 1,915 runs in 44 internationals at an average of 56.32 with two centuries and claimed 56 dismissals to his credit.
In the T20 format, Rizwan aggregated a staggering 1,326 runs in only 29 matches at an average of 73.66 and a strike rate of 134.89.
Apart from his exploits with the bat, he was solid behind the stumps, and played a key role in Pakistan's run to the T20 World Cup semi final.
England's Test captain Joe Root has 1,855 runs in 18 international matches at an average of 58.37 with six centuries to his name in 2021.
Despite failing to convert his starts into big scores, Root continued being England's best batter against Australia in the first three Ashes Tests.
His performance helped him reach the summit of the ICC test player rankings for batting, where he would be eventually displaced by Marnus Labuschagne.
Kiwi batsman Williamson scored 693 runs in 16 internationals at an average of 43.31 with one century in 2021.
His influential leadership helped the Black Caps scale unchartered heights during the year.
Williamson played a crucial role with the bat in the World Test championships final, he scored a vital 49 followed by an unbeaten 52 in a run chase of 139, and took his side home before lifting the mace.
The explosive batsman's tactical mind helped New Zealand reach the final of T20 World Cup where he played 85 off 43 balls but could not propel his side to a victory.
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