Shaheen Afridi has become the first Pakistani player to be named ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) awarded spinner Shaheen Shah Afridi the Men’s Cricketer of the Year on Monday, which was a momentous day for Pakistan’s cricket squad.
Mohammad Rizwan, Joe Root of England, and Kane Williamson of New Zealand were also nominated for the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy.
Throughout 2021, the tall Pakistani fast was on fire, knocking out some of the game’s best batters in all three formats. He had a fantastic year in Tests and T20Is, with his best performance coming during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the UAE, where he stunned everyone with his pace and brilliance.
Sizzling spells, sheer display of pace and swing and some magical moments ✨
Shaheen Afridi was unstoppable in 2021 💥
More 👉 https://t.co/XsTeXTPTZl pic.twitter.com/oE3y3H2ZXB
— ICC (@ICC) January 24, 2022
He would take seven wickets in six matches during Pakistan’s run to the semi-finals. He dominated the shortest format for the whole calendar year, collecting 23 wickets in 21 matches and vastly improving his death bowling.
After a sluggish start to the year in New Zealand Test cricket, Afridi turned things around during the home series against South Africa.
Throughout the rest of the year, he continued to impress on away tours to Zimbabwe, the West Indies, and Bangladesh. He grabbed 47 wickets in his nine matches, at a fantastic average of 17.06.
In 2021, Shaheen Shah Afridi showed off her swing, seam, sheer speed, and devastating yorkers.
Pakistani cricketers rule ICC Awards 2021
Pakistani cricketers not only won the most ICC honours but were also named to the 2021 World Cup squads.
Shaheen Afridi:
Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year
Babar Azam:
ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year
Fatima Sana
ICC Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the YEar 2021
Mohammad Rizwan:
ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year
ICC Teams of the Year
The ICC Men’s T20I Team of 2021: Jos Butler (ENG), Mohammad Rizwan (PAK, WK), Babar Azam (PAK, C), Aiden Markram (SA), Mitchell Marsh (AUS), David Miller (SA), Wanindu Hasaranga (SL), Tabraiz Shamsi (SA), Josh Hazlewood (AUS), Mustafizur Rahman (BANG) and Shaheen Afridi (PAK).
The ICC Men’s ODI Team of 2021: Paul Stirling (IRE), Janneman Malan (SA), Babar Azam (PAK, C), Fakhar Zaman (PAK), Rassie van der Dussen (SA), Shakib Al-Hasan (BANG), Mushfiqur Rahim (BANG, WK), Wanindu Hasaranga (SL), Mustafizur Rahman (BANG), Simi Singh (IRE) and Dushmantha Chameera (SL)
The ICC Women’s ODI Team of 2021: Lizelle Lee (SA), Alyssa Healy (AUS), Tammy Beaumont (ENG), Mithali Raj (IND), Heather Knight (ENG, C), Marizanne Kapp (SA), Hayley Matthews (WI), Fatima Sana (PAK), Jhulan Goswami (IND), Shabnim Ismail (SA) and Anisa Mohammed (WI).
ICC Men’s Test Team for 2021: Dimuth Karunaratne (SL), Rohit Sharma (India), Marnus Labuschagne (AUS), Joe Root (ENG), Kane Williamson (NZ), Fawad Alam (PAK), Rishabh Pant (IND, WK), Ravichandran Ashwin (IND), Kyle Jamison (NZ), Hasan Ali (PAK) and Shaheen Afridi (PAK).
