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Indian players were found missing in the list as the International Cricket Council (ICC) has put forth the nominees for the ICC Player of the Year award on Friday (December 31).
Pakistan’s batting sensation Mohammad Rizwan and star speedster Shaheen Afridi, England’s Joe Root and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson are the contenders, who will be vying for the award.
Rizwan has had a stupendous year in international cricket, having scored 1915 runs from 44 games at an average of 56.32 with two centuries to show for his efforts. The youngster also performed his wicketkeeping duties with precision, having affected 56 dismissals.
In T20Is, Rizwan put forward his A-game, smashing 1326 runs from 29 matches at an incredible average of 73.66 and a strike rate of 134.89. The 29-year-old Rizwan didn’t flatter to deceive in Test cricket, scoring 455 runs from nine matches at a decent enough average of 45.50.
Elaborating on the achievements of the players, the ICC noted that Shaheen took 78 wickets in 36 international matches this year at an average of 22.20 runs. He also delivered his career-best figures in an innings this year in August against the West Indies, grabbing six wickets for 51 runs.
"The tall Pakistani pacer was 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 absolute peak during the T20 World Cup in UAE where he impressed one and all with his sheer speed and skills," the statement said.
"He ruled the shortest format throughout the calendar year, scalping 23 wickets in 21 matches with his death bowling improving by leaps and bounds," it added.
Meanwhile, New Zealand skipper Williamson has also done brilliantly for the Black Caps in 2021. Back in June, he guided his side to glory in the 2019-21 World Test Championship final. The Kiwis got the better of India in the final at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. He also guided the national team to the final of the T20 World Cup.
Kane has had his injury concerns in recent times, but overall, he has made quite a significant amount of impact in 2021. In 16 international matches this year, the Tauranga-born has scored 693 runs at an average of 43.31 with one century.
Root, on the other hand, has scored 1855 international runs in 18 matches at an average of 58.37 with six tons to his name. He is currently the leading run-scorer in the Ashes that England are trailing 0-3 following losses in Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne.
Earlier, Root showed his batting prowess against India in the return leg of the Test series at home, aggregating 564 runs in four matches with three centuries to his name.
His performance also helped him reach the summit of the ICC Test Player Rankings for batting, where he would be eventually displaced by Marnus Labuschagne.
