By Emb Hashmi
Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara poses with his awards.
Former Sri Lanka cricketer Kumar Sangakkara has been named world cricketer of the year and also received two more prizes in the International Cricket Council awards including Test cricketer of the year and people’s choice award.
The 34-year-old Sri Lankan superstar sports man and veteran cricketer hit 1 444 runs, including five hundreds and five half-tons, at an average of 60.16 with a highest score of 211 during the 12-month voting period ending in early August.
Sangakkara said about his award “This is an amazing honour and I’ve seen the people who have won it before me and the nominees too, to be named alongside them is wonderful,”
ODI Cricketer of the Year award named as Indian batsman’s Virat Kohli who was competing with team-mate Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sri Lanka pair Sangakkara and Lasith Malinga, for the prestigious accolade.
South Africa’s Richard Levi won the T20I Performance of the Year award for his 117 not out from 51 balls against New Zealand in February. He said about his award “I don’t remember much of the innings but I regularly get reminded of it,” Levi said. “With T20 cricket it either comes off or it doesn’t and for me it came off that day.
The sparkle filled sports night was a surprising hit with all the winners, and gave hope to he losers as they where only a nomination away from winning.
The Winners
Cricketer of the Year:
Kumar Sangakkara (SRI)
Test Cricketer of the Year:
Kumar Sangakkara (SRI)
One-day Cricketer of the Year:
Virat Kohli (IND)
Women’s One-day Cricketer of the Year:
Stafanie Taylor (WIS)
Emerging Cricketer of the Year:
Sunil Narine (WIS)
Associate and Affiliate Cricketer of the Year:
George Dockrell (IRL)
Twenty20 International Performance of the Year:
Richard Levi (RSA) for his 117 not out off 51 balls v New Zealand
Women’s Twenty20 Cricketer of the Year:
Sarah Taylor (ENG)
Umpire of the Year:
Kumar Dharmasena (SRI)
Spirit of Cricket Award:
Daniel Vettori (NZL)
People’s Choice Award:
Kumar Sangakkara (SRI)
ICC Test Team of the Year:
Alastair Cook (ENG), Hashim Amla (RSA), Kumar Sangakkara (SRI), Jacques Kallis (RSA), Michael Clarke (AUS – capt), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WIS), Matt Prior (ENG – wicketkeeper), Stuart Broad (ENG), Saeed Ajmal (PAK), Vernon Philander (RSA), Dale Steyn (RSA). 12th man: AB de Villiers (RSA)
ICC ODI Team of the Year:
Gautam Gambhir (IND), Alastair Cook (ENG), Kumar Sangakkara (SRI), Virat Kohli (IND), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (IND – wicketkeeper/captain), Michael Clarke (AUS), Shahid Afridi (PAK), Morne Morkel (RSA), Steven Finn (ENG), Lasith Malinga (SRI), Saeed Ajmal (PAK).
