Ignored by ICC, Pakistani players to be awarded by PCB

Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced to award its cricketers and umpires for their performance throughout this year. 

Players will be awarded in eight different categories as said by the PCB in its press release. Apart from players, awards to Umpires, Spirit of Cricket, and Corporate Achievement will also be given.

An Independent jury has been set to shortlist players by December 31. The awards will be announced on January 1 on PCB’s digital platform.

The eight individual categories are:

• Emerging Men’s and Women’s Cricketers of the Year

• Women’s Cricketer of the Year

• Domestic Men’s Cricketer of the Year

• Individual Performance of the Year

• White-ball Cricketer of the Year

• Test Cricketer of the Year

• Most Valuable Cricketer of the Year

In the 2020 calendar year, Pakistan men’s national team played five Tests, three ODIs and 12 T20Is, while the Pakistan women’s national side featured in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Australia 2020.

Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 5 led the domestic events chart followed by National T20 Cup First and Second XI, Quaid-e-Azam Trophy First and Second XI Tournaments, PCB U19 One-day and Three-Day Tournaments, and two National Triangular T20 Women’s Cricket Championships.

As per the process, an independent jury comprising highly respected and distinguished cricket personalities will discuss performances in 10 of the 11 categories during the 2020 calendar year (1 January to 31 December) and select a winner in each category through a virtual meeting. The Umpire of the Year will be selected by the First XI head coaches and captains.

PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani:

“This has been an incredibly difficult year for everyone, but I am delighted we not only went ahead with our domestic cricket schedule but delivered it successfully.

“It is appropriate that this achievement be celebrated through the annual awards, which are designed to acknowledge and recognise outstanding individual performers during this challenging year.

“Players are our most important stakeholders and they are truly worthy of this acknowledgement as they have endured extremely challenging Covid-19 protocols to not only keep the sport going, but also to provide fans and followers entertainment during some very depressing times.

“The PCB Awards 2020 is a small way to show our gratitude to all the cricketers, player support personnel and match officials for their sacrifices that has allowed the game to continue to be played in these challenging times and grow stronger. The PCB recognises this was not only hard on the participants, but also on their families. We thank them for putting the interest of the game first.

“I am sure the PCB Awards will provide added incentive to the cricketers in 2021, knowing that their achievements will be recognised.

“This is also success for the entire PCB, which got behind the season and, collectively as one team, delivered one of the busiest, painstaking and complex cricket seasons with immaculate logistical and operational planning and delivery. The PCB aspires to be one of the high-performing organisations and performances like these will certainly help us to continue to head in that direction.”