The International Cricket Council (ICC) named Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan as the T20I Cricketer of the Year 2021.
Rizwan has been rewarded for his “sheer consistency, indomitable spirit and plenty of breathtaking knocks” last year. “The Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman ruled the roost in 2021 when it came to the shortest format of the game,” the cricket govening body said.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja congratulated Rizwan on the achievement. “Well deserved achievement. Your humility, attitude and hard work defines you. Wishing you more laurels and success,” Raja said in a tweet.
Earlier this week, the ICC had also included Rizwan in its T20I team of the year featuring two more Pakistani players — Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi. Rizwan aggregated a staggering 1,326 runs in only 29 matches at an average of 73.66 and a strike-rate of 134.89 last year.
Sheer Consistency, indomitable spirit and some breathtaking knocks ????
2021 was memorable for Mohammad Rizwan ????
More ???? https://t.co/9guq9xKOod pic.twitter.com/6VZo7aaRIA
— ICC (@ICC) January 23, 2022
According to the cricket body, 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.
He also scored the maiden T20I century of his career against South Africa in Lahore early in the year and ended it continuing his form with a “brilliant knock” of 87 against West Indies in Karachi. “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.
“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.”
Rizwan had smacked an unbeaten 79 runs off 55 balls, hitting six fours and three sixes in the high-profile match against India. “The ease with which he countered the Indian bowling attack was a thing of sheer beauty. He ensured that there were no hiccups in the run-chase as Pakistan galloped towards the target without losing a single wicket to seal a 10-wicket victory,” the ICC said of the most memorable performance of the year.
