DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has included Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan among the four players shortlisted for the ICC Player of the Year award.
Afridi and Rizwan had a stellar year with ball and bat respectively. Afridi picked a total of 78 wickets in 36 games, averaging a superb 22.20 with the ball. Rizwan, on the other hand, scored 1915 runs in 44 games, averaging 56.32 with the bat.
Both played a crucial role in dismantling India for the very first time in a World Cup game. Afridi dismissed the Indian top order cheaply in a spell that turned out to be match-winning for Pakistan. Rizwan, along with Babar, then steamrolled the Indian bowlers to script a historic win for Pakistan.
The other nominated players are England Test captain Joe Root and New Zealand’s all-format captain Kane Williamson.
