Dubai, The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the first set of nominees for the ICC Awards 2023, focusing on the T20I and Emerging Player categories. This announcement marks the beginning of the awards season, celebrating the achievements of cricketers from eight different nations in the shortest format of the game.
According to International Cricket Council, the nominees for the Men’s and Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year and the Emerging Men’s and Women’s Cricketer of the Year have been announced. This reflects a year of thrilling competition in T20 cricket and recognizes the emergence of new talents in both the men’s and women’s games.
In the Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year category, India’s Suryakumar Yadav, last year’s winner, is nominated again. He faces competition from New Zealand’s Mark Chapman, Uganda’s Alpesh Ramjani, and Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza. Each of these players had a significant impact in T20 cricket during the year.
The Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year shortlist includes Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu, England’s Sophie Ecclestone, West Indies’ Hayley Matthews, and Australia’s Ellyse Perry, a former two-time winner of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. These players have been recognized for their outstanding performances in women’s T20 cricket.
For the Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year, the nominees are Bangladesh’s Marufa Akter, England’s Lauren Bell, Scotland’s Darcey Carter, and Australia’s Phoebe Litchfield. These players have made a notable impact in women’s cricket, showcasing their potential in international matches.
The Emerging Men’s Cricketer of the Year category features South Africa’s Gerald Coetzee, India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sri Lanka’s Dilshan Madushanka, and New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra. These young players have demonstrated exceptional talent and promise in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Fans globally can now vote for their favorite T20I and Emerging players at the ICC website. The results from fan voting will be combined with selections made by the ICC Voting Academy to determine the winners in each category.
Additional shortlists for the nine ICC Awards 2023 categories, including the ICC Men’s and Women’s Associate Cricketers of the Year, the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award, and the ICC Umpire of the Year, will be announced over the next 48 hours. Winners of the ICC Awards 2023 will be revealed later in January 2024.
Lahore, Six members of Pakistan’s T20 International (T20I) squad are set to depart from Lahore to Auckland tonight, via Dubai, to participate in the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand. The series, scheduled from January 12 to 21, will be played across various cities in New Zealand, including Auckland, Hamilton, Dunedin, and Christchurch.
According to Pakistan Cricket Board, the departing members include Abbas Afridi, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haseebullah Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Sahibzada Farhan. These players, along with nine others, have been part of a series preparation camp at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The camp, led by High-Performance Coach Yasir Arafat, focused on honing the players’ skills in modern T20 cricket through match scenarios and various practice sessions.
Yasir Arafat, speaking at the conclusion of the camp, emphasized the importance of quality training tailored to the requirements of modern-day cricket. He highlighted that the drills were designed to emulate the strategies of attacking teams and prepare the players for high-pressure games. Arafat also mentioned the camp’s role in preparing for the T20 World Cup and building a strong bench strength for Pakistan cricket.
The camp also saw senior players like Fakhar Zaman and Iftikhar Ahmed mentoring newcomers, providing a valuable learning experience for the emerging talent. This approach underscores the Pakistan Cricket Board’s commitment to nurturing young talent and blending it with experienced players.
In addition to the six departing players, left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz, who was recently released from the Test squad, has joined bowlers Zaman Khan, Haris Rauf, and Usama Mir in training for the T20I series. This group will depart from Australia for Auckland on January 5, where they will join the rest of the T20 squad.
The full squad for the T20I series includes Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abbas Afridi, Azam Khan (wicket-keeper), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (wicket-keeper), Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Usama Mir, and Zaman Khan.
Pakistan’s T20I team embarks on this tour with a blend of experienced players and emerging talent, aiming to make a strong statement in the international cricket arena.