Pakistan wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan has been named as the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year.
Rizwan had a staggering year with 1326 runs in only 29 matches, Rizwan struck at an average of 73.66 and a strike rate of 134.89. ICC has picked Pakistan’s T20I opener as the ICC men’s T20I cricketer of the year 2021. ICC’s special panel of members selected Rizwan as the worthy winner of the award.
“The Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman ruled the roost in 2021 when it came to the shortest format of the game,” the ICC said of Rizwan after crowning him as the top T20I player of the year.
“I’m happy to get ICC player of the year award which has made Pakistan proud worldwide. PSL franchises have their own plans. I plan to do better for every next series. I always think about how can I improve for the sake of betterment. Hard work is all I believe in,” said Mohammad Rizwan in the virtual conference today.
“I never think about averages, those who think about average – remain average players,” said Rizwan
“It was probably due to team’s requirement or maybe there was no place for me in top order then, I’ve also batted at the eighth position for my team – and I don’t blame anyone for that, it was a requirement then but it is true that it wasn’t helping my batting then,” Rizwan added.
“It is now for everyone to see how things changed for me when I started batting in top order.
Apart from his exploits with the bat, he was as solid as ever behind the stumps, playing a key role in Pakistan’s run to the semifinals during the T20 World Cup 2021. Rizwan ruled the roost in 2021 with 1915 runs in 44 internationals at an average of 56.32 with two centuries. He also had 56 dismissals while keeping the stumps behind the wickets.
