107:CSA Awards Anrich Nortje, Shabnim Ismail win South Africa men's and women's Cricketer of the Year
Cricket South Africa announced the awards for the year 2020-21 in a virtual ceremony on Monday. In Men’s category, right-handed batsman Rassie Van der Dussen won the ODI Cricketer of the Year, on the other hand Tabraiz Shamsi and George Linde were honoured with the T20I Cricketer of the Year. Linde also won the Men’s International Newcomer of the Year. Additionally Kusal Mendis's dismissal in the Test match against Sri Lanka got Wiaan Mulder The CSA Delivery of the Year. In the Women’s category, Lizelle Lee swept away the Momentum ODI Cricketer of the Year and The KFC Streetwise award for her phenomenal performance against India earlier this year.
Pacers Anrich Nortje and Shabnim Ismail earned big at the CSA’s award night as the two were named as South Africa Men’s and Women’s Cricketer of the year.
Nortje bags four awards, Ismail bags top honour for a record second time
It was a night dominated by the pacers at South Africa’s award ceremony as Anrich Nortje and Shabnim Ismail were named CSA’s men’s and women’s Cricketer of the Year, respectively.
The night was indeed a memorable night for the lanky right-arm pacer as he bagged four awards, including Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year. Nortje created history as he has become the 12th cricketer to win the International Men’s Newcomer of the Year and Men’s Cricketer of the Year in consecutive sessions. Besides, the pacer is also a joint-winner with Aiden Markram for the SA Men's Players' Player of the Year and was declared as SA Fans' Player of the Year which was judged on the basis of fans’ polls online.
On the other hand, 32-year-old Shabnim Ismail won the top honour for the second time, after winning it in 2015 and is only the third Proteas player to win it twice.
Anrich and Shabnim have set the highest standards: CSA official
Cricket South Africa was all praise for the winners and hailed Nortje and Ismail for their remarkable performances. "Anrich and Shabnim have set the highest standards that we expect from our icon Proteas players. Anrich's international career to date has been remarkable,” said a CSA official.
He further went on to acknowledge and appreciate the umpires, ground staff, sponsors and partners for their support. He then expressed a special tribute to the medical team for setting the best bio-secure facilities and making cricket possible in those times.