Outstanding players, match officials to receive PCB awards

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board on Monday announced the details of its 2020 awards for recognising outstanding players and match officials who produced exceptional performance during the calendar year 2020, and for which the PCB has formed an independent jury comprising cricket personalities.

For the purpose of the awards, the PCB has identified 11 categories, including eight player categories, for which the winners will be presented specially-designed trophies during the forthcoming home series against South Africa.

The eight individual categories include Emerging Men’s and Women’s Cricketers of the Year, Women’s Cricketer of the Year, Domestic Men’s Cricketer of the Year, Individual Performance of the Year, White-ball Cricketer of the Year, Test Cricketer of the Year and Most Valuable Cricketer of the Year.

In addition to the eight individual prizes, there will be Spirit of Cricket, Umpire of the Year and Best Corporate Achievement of the Year awards.

The domestic events held during the period included HBL PSL 2020, National T20 Cup, Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, PCB U-19 one-day and three-day tournaments and two National Triangular T20 Women’s cricket championships.

“As per the process, an independent jury comprising highly respected and distinguished cricket personalities will discuss performances in 10 of the 11 categories during the 2020 calendar year [Jan 1 to Dec 31] and select a winner in each category through a virtual meeting. The Umpire of the Year will be selected by the First XI head coaches and captains,” read a PCB press release issued on Monday.

In the 2020 calendar year, Pakistan men’s national team played five Tests, three ODIs and 12 T20 Internationals, while the Pakistan women’s national side featured in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup staged in Australia.

“An independent jury to consider player performances in eight individual categories during the 2020 calendar year, short-lists to be announced on Dec 31 with the winners to be unveiled on the PCB digital channels on Jan 1, 2021,” the press release stated.