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.