Misbah nominated for ICC Award

Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq was his country’s lone representative among the nominees for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricketer of the Year Award.

The middle-order batsman was also nominated in the Test Player of the Year Award category. Hashim Amla, Zaheer Khan, Sachin Tendulkar and AB de Villiers are among several other leading cricketers who have been nominated for both the prestigious awards.

Other Pakistanis to have won nominations in various categories include Mohammad Hafeez and Saeed Ajmal for the One-Day International (ODI) Player of the Year Award, Azhar Ali and Adnan Akmal for the emerging player category, and Bismah Maroof for the women’s cricketer of the year award.

Pakistan umpire Aleem Dar, who won last year’s Umpire of the Year Award, will again be competing for the prestigious award, along with Asad Rauf.

This year’s ICC Awards include 10 individual prizes and also feature the selection of the Test and One-Day International Teams of the Year and the award to the side that has adhered most to the Spirit of Cricket.

In addition, five cricketers have been nominated for the People’s Choice Award, which include Jonathan Trott, MS Dhoni, Chris Gayle, Kumar Sangakkara and South Africa’s Hashim Amla.

The long-lists of nominations were made by a five-man selection panel, which included Clive Lloyd, Mike Gatting, Danny Morrison, Paul Adams and Zaheer Abbas. The award ceremony is due to be held on September 12 in London.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 11^th, 2011.

ICC award nominees

Cricketer of the Year (Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy):

Hashim Amla (RSA), James Anderson (ENG), Ian Bell (ENG), Stuart Broad (ENG), Alastair Cook (ENG), Rahul Dravid (IND), Jacques Kallis (RSA), Zaheer Khan (IND), Misbah-ul-Haq (PAK), Kumar Sangakkara (SRI), Andrew Strauss (ENG), Graeme Swann (ENG), Sachin Tendulkar (IND), Chris Tremlett (ENG), Jonathan Trott (ENG), AB de Villiers (RSA), Shane Watson (AUS)

Test Player of the Year:

Hashim Amla (RSA), James Anderson (ENG), Ian Bell (ENG), Stuart Broad (ENG), Alastair Cook (ENG), Rahul Dravid (IND), Jacques Kallis (RSA), Zaheer Khan (IND), Misbah-ul-Haq (PAK), Kevin Pietersen (ENG), Ishant Sharma (IND), Harbhajan Singh (IND), Dale Steyn (RSA), Graeme Swann (ENG), Sachin Tendulkar (IND), Chris Tremlett (ENG), Jonathan Trott (ENG), AB de Villiers (RSA), Shane Watson (AUS)

ODI Player of the Year:

Hashim Amla (RSA), Michael Clarke (AUS), MS Dhoni (IND), Gautam Gambhir (IND), Mohammed Hafeez (PAK), Mahela Jayawardene (SRI), Zaheer Khan (IND), Virat Kohli (IND), Lasith Malinga (SRI), Munaf Patel (IND), Saeed Ajmal (PAK), Shakib Al Hasan (BAN), Kumar Sangakkara (SRI), Virender Sehwag (IND), Yuvraj Singh (IND), Tim Southee (NZL), Dale Steyn (RSA), Graeme Swann (ENG), Jonathan Trott (ENG), AB de Villiers (RSA), Shane Watson (AUS).

Kamran Akmal shows disappointment over not getting a central contract by the PCB

Pakistan’s controversial wicketkeepet, Kamran Akmal, was not very happy over Pakistan Cricket Board's decision of not offering him a central contract.

Akmal expressed massive disappointed after not getting a contract, and showed strong desire to play for his national side again.

The wicketkeeper batsman who represented Pakistan in the recent World Cup, stated that the PCB has been offering him a contract since the last 8 years, and this years axe is shocking for him.

However, the 29-year-old opening batsman said that he respects the board’s decision, and refused to comment on it.

During the ICC World Cup 2011, Akmal performed terribly behind the stumps, and was not too good with the bat either.

He dropped Ross Taylor twice in Shoaib Akthar’s over during the group match against New Zealand, which allowed the Kiwi team to hammer Pakistan badly.

After the New Zealand match, Akmal faced heavy criticism from Pakistani fans and media; however, his lean patch continued in the knock out round, as he dropped some crucial catches in the Semi-Final game against India, at Mohali

Apart from a dreadful wicket-keeping performance, the right-handed batsman did not provide run to his with the bat either.

After the World Cup, the national selection committee dropped Akmal from the squad for the West Indies tour, including 30-year-old, Mohammad Salman, in his place.

Now the governing body of cricket in Pakistan has not considered him in the list of 23 players for the central contracts, courtesy of his bad performance, which he was displaying from Australia’s tour in 2010. The only reason he was continually given chances was his experience.

Coming back to Akmal’s disappointment, he said that he will continue his cricket at the domestic level and prove his form.