Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan named ICC Men's T20I Cricketer of the Year 2021

The International Cricket Council announced Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan as the ICC T20I Cricketer of the Year for 2021. The announcement was made across all social media handles of the world body. Rizwan, who was on a different plane altogether this year in the shortest format, defeated some serious contenders in form of England’s Jos Buttler, Australia’s Micthell Marsh and Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga in the race.

In total, the 29-year-old aggregated a staggering 1326 runs in only 29 matches at an average of 73.66 and a strike rate of 134.89. He was solid behind the stumps as well, picking up 24 dismissals in 29 games.

Speaking on the occasion, Rizwans said, "I am selling double happy today because along with me Pakistan is being represented at one of the highest platforms in the cricketing world." He further went on to thank the Pakistan team management and all the other people involved in him being able to put out his best.

The ICC has started announcing its annual awards today and has so far announced Men's and Women's Associate Cricketer of the Year 2021 which has been bagged by Oman's Zeeshan Maqsood and Austria's Andrea-Mae Zepeda.

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BPL 2022: Comilla Victorians, Chattogram Challengers register wins

The bowlers had a good time at the office during the clash between Comilla Victorians and Sylhet Sunrisers in Dhaka. Batting first, Sylhet Sunrisers were bundled out for 96 in just over 19 overs with only three batsmen making it to the double-figure mark. Nahidul Islam, Mustafizur and Shohidul Islam scalped a couple of wickets each. Later, Comilla Victorians had a dismal start to the chase as they lost wickets at regular intervals to get reduced to 55/5. But it was Karim Janat and Nahidul Islam who stitched a 27-run stand to provide resistance to the side. But the Victorians lost a few more wickets and 88/8 when Ankon and Tanvir Islam made sure that they take the team over the line. Nazmul Islam returned with figures of 3/17 in 4 overs for his side. Chattogram Challengers vs Minister Group Dhaka Chattogram Challengers registered a 30-run win after defending a target of 162 runs against Minister Group Dhaka. The Dhaka team didn't really have a great start to the proceedings and lost wickets at regular intervals. Tamim Iqbal was the pick of the batters as he notched up a fifty but the side was bundled out for 131. Shoriful Islam picked up four wickets for 34 runs in 4 overs while Nasum Ahmed returned with figures of 3/9 in his 4 overs. Earlier, the Challengers scored 161/8 in 20 overs, courtesy a 24-ball 41 from Will Jacks and 37 in 19 deliveries from Howell.

Super Smash 2021-22 | Otago Volts vs Canterbury Kings | Match 29 Preview, Predictions, Fantasy XI

This is a dead rubber but Otago will play for their pride while Canterbury will play to gain confidence moving into the eliminator.

Delighted to confirm that IPL 2022 will start in last week of March: Jay Shah

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah has confirmed that the Indian Premier League will commence in the final week of March. “I am delighted to confirm that the 15th season of the IPL will start in the last week of March and will run until May end. A majority of the team owners expressed their wish that the tournament be held in India. The BCCI was always keen on staging the 2022 edition that will see two new teams – Ahmedabad and Lucknow – in India. I can tell you that we will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that IPL stays in India,” BCCI Secretary Jay Shah told ANI. “BCCI has not compromised on the health & safety of its stakeholders in the past & will concurrently work on Plan B since #COVID19 situation with new variants remains fluid. Mega IPL Auction will take place on Feb 12-13th & we'll lock in venues before that,” he added.

AFG vs NED | The Dutch look to bounce back after failing to chase 223 in first ODI

The Netherlands, who had won two out of the four completed games of their Cricket World Cup 2023 Super League campaign, had yet another chance to add to that tally and show to the cricket world that they deserve to play the big guns regularly, when they faced Afghanistan in the first of the three-match ODI series at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha, Qatar. However, the men in orange failed to do so as they were not able to chase down even as modest a target as 223, getting all out at 186 only. It was the first time that an ODI game was played at that venue which Afghanistan is using as its home ground. Rashid Khan was the wrecker in chief with the ball for the team from the Hindukush valley. In batting, it was the knocks by skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (73) and Rahmat Shah (70) that powered the afghan side to reach the total of 22 in its 50 overs. The Dutch started well, with the first wicket adding 32 in eight overs. The team would hope that Scott Edwards, who was going well having reached his second ODI fifty and career-best 68 before falling to Mujeeb Ur Rahman, shows his class in the second game as well. No other Netherlands batter was able to provide as much resistance to the spin of Afghanistan and hence the entire team fell for 186 even as skipper Pieter Seelaar tried the build up a rescue act with his lone hand of 32. The Dutch team is without its usual firepower of Max O’Dowd, Tom Cooper, Roelof van der Merwe and Logan van Beek and hence it would have to hope that the likes of Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, Philippe Boissevain and Musa Ahmed, who are the up and coming stars, would take much more responsibility in the next game.