Mohammad Rizwan named one of Wisden's Cricketers of the Year

[Saj]

Congratulations to Mohammad Rizwan on being named one of Wisden's Cricketers of the Year.

 

[Saj]

England all-rounder Ben Stokes has been named Wisden's leading cricketer in the world for the second year in a row.

Stokes, 29, is the first Englishman to win the award twice since its inception in 2004.

He scored more Test runs than any other batsman in 2020, with 641 in seven matches, while also taking 19 wickets.

Kent all-rounder Darren Stevens has become the oldest person since 1933 to be named as one of Wisden's five Cricketers of the Year.

Stevens, 44, is the fourth-oldest recipient of the award, which dates back to 1889.

England batsmen Zak Crawley and Dom Sibley, Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan and former West Indies captain Jason Holder join Stevens on the 2021 list.

Stokes won the award last year for a stellar 2019 in which he played a key role in England's World Cup victory and scored 135 not out in a thrilling one-wicket win over Australia in the third Ashes Test at Headingley.

In a year curtailed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Stokes still shone in 2020, averaging 58.27 in Tests, including 120 against South Africa and 176 against West Indies, while his 19 wickets came at an average of just 18.73.

Australia batter Beth Mooney was named the leading woman cricketer in the world.

Mooney, 27, was named player of the tournament in the 2020 Women's T20 World Cup, scoring 78 not out in the final as Australia beat India, while she was also the leading runscorer in the 2020-21 Women's Big Bash League.

Stevens took 29 wickets at an average of only 15 in the Bob Willis Trophy last year, which Wisden editor Lawrence Booth said "confirmed his status as one of the domestic game's most unsung heroes".

Crawley hit a sublime 267 against Pakistan at Southampton in just his eighth Test in August, while also scoring centuries in both the Bob Willis Trophy and Twenty20 Blast.

Sibley also made his maiden Test century in 2020, with an unbeaten 133 against South Africa in Cape Town, before scoring 120 against West Indies at Old Trafford.

Holder is acknowledged for being "a giant both on and off the field" last summer when West Indies toured England during the coronavirus lockdown.

He led his side's support of the Black Lives Matter movement in taking a knee before each Test and also took 6-42 in the first innings of the first Test at Southampton, which West Indies won by four wickets.

Rizwan averaged 43.14 in Test cricket in 2020 and also took a stunning catch to dismiss Stokes in the first Test at Old Trafford.

West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard was named the leading T20 cricketer in the world after averaging 53 with a phenomenal strike rate of 199 for various teams and also helping Mumbai Indians to the Indian Premier League title.

 

[Bewal Express]

Great Honour for Riz, thoroughly deserved. IA he hits even greater heights in the years to come.

 

[Major]

Rizwan is a great keeper and a batsmen. Really admire him, infact i have become his fan.

One of the best batsmen Pakistan has produced. He has flourished under Misbah. Rizwan needed a proper chance and run. Misbah gave him that, he showed trust upon him and now we are seeing him score runs after runs.

 

[hitthestump]

An absolute clutch cricketer. Took a while for him to come good but Pakistan are benefitting from giving him a solid run in the side.

If Sarfaraz hadn't been so pathetic and complacent we may never have seen how good Rizzy can be! So thanks to Sarafaraz really

 

[Saj]

Two rules for being selected:

Emphasis on the English summer; can’t have been chosen before.

 

[PakLFC]

Rizwan has been very impressive since his debut. A good keeper who scores steadily with the bat too. I think it's farewell Sarfaraz Ahmed at least from the test and t20 side.

 

[rhony]

Great honor! Congrats to Rizwan!

 

[Firebat]

Congratulations to Rizwan, very well deserved! Our most clutch and consistent player since his recent run in the side.

 

[MenInG]

Previous Pakistanis who made it to the Wisden Cricketer of the Year list:

1955 Fazal M
1963 Mushtaq M
1968 Asif I, Hanif M
1970 Majid K
1972 Zaheer A
1982 Javed M
1983 Imran K
1988 Saleem M
1992 Waqar Y
1993 Wasim A
1997 Mushtaq A, Saeed A
2000 Saqlain M
2007 M Yousuf
2017 Younis K, Misbah

 

[Rafa]

Great comeback from Rizwan in International Cricket.

 

[Sunzi]

My guy

So happy for him, if it hadn't already become apparent he's my favourite player of recent times. I'm glad he is receiving recognition.

 

[Ab Fan]

A true heir to BJ Watling who in my opinion is the best test wicket keeper batsman since Adam Gilchrist.

 

[UzmanBeast]

Rizwan can really become Pakistan's best ever wicket-keeper batsman if he continues to grow as a player and reaches new heights.

A seriously good player, who perhaps needs to change his position in ODIs. Maybe as an opener, he'll benefit more.

 

[silentkiller187]

congratulations to rizzy , defo has the minerals to become an important player for pakistan in the future.

 

[the Great Khan]

really good player. Some of those inside out shots yesterday were pure talent and class. Love the jazba as well. Having babar Fakhar and Rizwan in the top three/four really helps our limited overs teams.

Now just need to sort out that middle order!!

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

So happy for him.

It has been a while since we've had a decent WK/Batsman.

Any successful team needs a classy WK. Hopefully he will win us many more games, Insha'Allah!

 

[Adil_94]

Well deserved Rizwan is a class act

 

[gazza619]

Congrats Razzler!

 

[gazza619]

Rizwan can really become Pakistan's best ever wicket-keeper batsman if he continues to grow as a player and reaches new heights.

A seriously good player, who perhaps needs to change his position in ODIs. Maybe as an opener, he'll benefit more.

Who knows he might even reach Dhoni’s heights as a player if he keeps consistency and win us more.

 

[Slim]

Well done Rizwan! Totally deserved this. Tiger of Pakistan cricket - fearless, mentally composed and a top top player!

 

[GudduBadmash]

It's a bad day for the abnormals who will still find a way to criticise the poor guy

 

[Markhor]

A living example of how hard work, introspection and dedication takes you far in life.

If only some of his predecessors, especially a certain two brothers, understood this message.

 

[UzmanBeast]

Who knows he might even reach Dhoni’s heights as a player if he keeps consistency and win us more.

Agreed. The sky is the limit for Rizwan.

 

[Majid Khan]

Previous Pakistanis who made it to the Wisden Cricketer of the Year list:

1955 Fazal M
1963 Mushtaq M
1968 Asif I, Hanif M
1970 Majid K
1972 Zaheer A
1982 Javed M
1983 Imran K
1988 Saleem M
1992 Waqar Y
1993 Wasim A
1997 Mushtaq A, Saeed A
2000 Saqlain M
2007 M Yousuf
2017 Younis K, Misbah

That is good company for Rizwan as with the exception of Inzamam, Abdul Qadir and Babar Azam (who is destined for great things ) , the names in this list are undoubtedly the greatest Pakistani cricketers of all time.

Any other names missing among the Pakistan cricket ATGs from this list ?

(Hafeez ... perhaps )

 

[A.A.Z]

That is good company for Rizwan as with the exception of Inzamam, Abdul Qadir and Babar Azam (who is destined for great things ) , the names in this list are undoubtedly the greatest Pakistani cricketers of all time.

Any other names missing among the Pakistan cricket ATGs from this list ?

(Hafeez ... perhaps �&#56596

Kardar and Imtiaz from the first batch of Pakistan cricketers.

Qadir and Inzamam as you stated.

Ajmal and Akhtar missed out but not sure they did anything of note in the UK apart from maybe a county stint and the 1999 WC.

Asif and Amir probably missed out too for being banned.

Babar and Shaheen may be named in the coming years hopefully.

 

[Saj]

That is good company for Rizwan as with the exception of Inzamam, Abdul Qadir and Babar Azam (who is destined for great things ) , the names in this list are undoubtedly the greatest Pakistani cricketers of all time.

Any other names missing among the Pakistan cricket ATGs from this list ?

(Hafeez ... perhaps �&#56596

Hafeez scheduled to get it in 4 or 5 years time I think MK, when he's still going strong

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Previous Pakistanis who made it to the Wisden Cricketer of the Year list:

1955 Fazal M
1963 Mushtaq M
1968 Asif I, Hanif M
1970 Majid K
1972 Zaheer A
1982 Javed M
1983 Imran K
1988 Saleem M
1992 Waqar Y
1993 Wasim A
1997 Mushtaq A, Saeed A
2000 Saqlain M
2007 M Yousuf
2017 Younis K, Misbah

All of them are among the best of our cricket. Great company for Rizwan there.