The International Cricket Council (ICC) has named Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan as the T20I Cricketer of the Year for his sheer "consistency, indomitable spirit and plenty of breathtaking knocks" in 2021. Earlier this week, the ICC had also included Rizwan in its T20I team of the year featuring two more Pakistani players, captain Babar Azam and pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi.
"The Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman ruled the roost in 2021 when it came to the shortest format of the game," the ICC said after crowning Rizwan as the top T20I player of the year.
The wicketkeeper-batter scored 1,326 runs in 29 appearances at an average of 73.66 and a strike rate of 134.89 last year. This is the most runs scored by a player in the format in a calendar year.
According to ICC, Rizwan was "as solid as ever behind the stumps", playing a key role in Pakistan's run to the semi-final during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021, where he ended up as the third-highest run-scorer.
"With another T20 World Cup coming up next year, Pakistan will hope that Rizwan continues in the same vein," said the ICC.
The global cricket body also appreciated Rizwan for his impressive innings in the World T20 fixture against India that helped Pakistan beat its arch-rivals for the first time in any World Cup format. He also scored a half-century in the losing cause in semi-final clash against West Indies despite spending a night in the ICU.
"With the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami in opposition attack, the task was made all the more complicated. But as was almost always the case in 2021, Rizwan along with his skipper Babar Azam ensured to seal a famous victory that will be remembered in the history of Pakistan cricket for years to come," ICC further added.
Rizwan had smacked an unbeaten 79 runs off 55 balls, hitting six fours and three sixes in the historic win against India.
The right-handed batter also scored the maiden T20I century of his career against South Africa in Lahore early in the year. He continued his form with a brilliant knock of 87 against West Indies in Karachi.
England's Tammy Beaumont was also named the ICC women's T20 Player of the Year. In a low-scoring dead rubber rubber against New Zealand away from home, Beaumont was the top-scorer and was awarded the Player of the Series for scoring 102 runs in three matches. She scored a brilliant fifty in a match against India, though it went in vain after a lower-order collapse.
Beaumont continued to make runs against New Zealand. When Kiwis visited England for a limited-overs tour, she once again finished as the highest run-getter in the series with 113 runs.
