Former India captain and current coach Rahul Dravid received the first Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC cricketer of the year in 2004. Getty
Former India captain and current coach Rahul Dravid received the first Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC cricketer of the year in 2004. Getty
South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis was named the cricket of the year in 2005. AFP
South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis was named the cricket of the year in 2005. AFP
England’s Andrew Flintoff - star of the 2005 Ashes - was also named the ICC cricketer of year alongside Jacques Kallis. Getty
England’s Andrew Flintoff - star of the 2005 Ashes - was also named the ICC cricketer of year alongside Jacques Kallis. Getty
Star Australia batsman and captain Ricky Ponting was named cricketer of the year in 2006 and 2007. Getty
Star Australia batsman and captain Ricky Ponting was named cricketer of the year in 2006 and 2007. Getty
West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul was the cricketer of the year in 2008. Andrew Parsons / The National
West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul was the cricketer of the year in 2008. Andrew Parsons / The National
Aussie quick Mitchell Johnson became the first fast bowler to be named cricketer of the year, in 2009. Getty
Aussie quick Mitchell Johnson became the first fast bowler to be named cricketer of the year, in 2009. Getty
India batting legend Sachin Tendulkar was adjudged cricketer of the year in 2010 - the year in which he became the first batsman to score an ODI double century.
India batting legend Sachin Tendulkar was adjudged cricketer of the year in 2010 - the year in which he became the first batsman to score an ODI double century.
England batsman Jonathan Trott was named cricketer of 2011. Satish Kumar / The National
England batsman Jonathan Trott was named cricketer of 2011. Satish Kumar / The National
Sri Lanka wicketkeeper batsman Kumar Sangakkara was the ICC cricketer of 2012. Getty
Sri Lanka wicketkeeper batsman Kumar Sangakkara was the ICC cricketer of 2012. Getty
Australia captain Michael Clarke was cricketer of the year in 2013.
Australia captain Michael Clarke was cricketer of the year in 2013.
Aussie quick Mitchell Johnson won the cricketer of the year award for the second time - in 2014. Pawan Singh / The National
Aussie quick Mitchell Johnson won the cricketer of the year award for the second time - in 2014. Pawan Singh / The National
Australia batsman Steve Smith was cricketer of the year in 2015 - following the 50-over World Cup win. Reuters
Australia batsman Steve Smith was cricketer of the year in 2015 - following the 50-over World Cup win. Reuters
India's Ravichandran Ashwin became the first spinner to win the cricketer of the year award - in 2016. AFP
India's Ravichandran Ashwin became the first spinner to win the cricketer of the year award - in 2016. AFP
Star India batsman Virat Kohli was cricketer of the year for 2017 and 2018 - a period where he dominated the run charts in all formats and enjoyed an average of above 50 in all cricket. AFP
Star India batsman Virat Kohli was cricketer of the year for 2017 and 2018 - a period where he dominated the run charts in all formats and enjoyed an average of above 50 in all cricket. AFP
England's Ben Stokes did it all in 2019 - won the World Cup at home and clinched a stunning Ashes win single-handedly at Headingley. AP
England's Ben Stokes did it all in 2019 - won the World Cup at home and clinched a stunning Ashes win single-handedly at Headingley. AP
Fast bowler Shaheen Afridi became the first Pakistan cricketer and the youngest - at 21 - to win the ICC cricketer of the year award. Reuters
Fast bowler Shaheen Afridi became the first Pakistan cricketer and the youngest - at 21 - to win the ICC cricketer of the year award. Reuters

Sport

Cricket

From Rahul Dravid to Shaheen Afridi, every ICC cricketer of the year - in pictures

Pakistan fast bowler became the latest - and youngest - recipient of the Sir Garfield Sobers trophy

Ajit Vijaykumar

January 25, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

The International Cricket Council's cricketer of the year is the most prestigious award in the game, a recognition of a player's individual excellence.

While cricket is a team game, some players rise above the rest and the world body has been rewarding their contributions since 2004 in the form of the Sir Garfield Sobers trophy for the best men's player of the year.

ICC men's cricketer of the year

2004 - Rahul Dravid (IND) ; 2005 - Jacques Kallis (SA) and Andrew Flintoff (ENG); 2006 - Ricky Ponting (AUS); 2007 - Ricky Ponting; 2008 - Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI); 2009 - Mitchell Johnson (AUS); 2010 - Sachin Tendulkar (IND); 2011 - Jonathan Trott (ENG); 2012 - Kumar Sangakkara (SL); 2013 - Michael Clarke (AUS); 2014 - Mitchell Johnson; 2015 - Steve Smith (AUS); 2016 - Ravichandran Ashwin (IND); 2017 - Virat Kohli (IND); 2018 - Virat Kohli; 2019 - Ben Stokes (ENG); 2021 - Shaheen Afridi

The awards have been dominated by batsmen and all-rounders, with Australia quick Mitchell Johnson and India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin the only bowlers to receive the honour.

Then on Monday, Pakistan left-arm quick Shaheen Afridi became the first from his country and the youngest recipient, at 21, to receive the annual award.

Afridi picked up 78 wickets in 36 international matches in 2021 but his most memorable effort was the opening burst against India at the T20 World Cup in Dubai which not only set up a 10-wicket win but also handed his team a first win over their neighbours in a World Cup.

Afridi famously trapped Rohit Sharma first ball before castling KL Rahul with an in-swinger to erase the pain of 12 successive World Cup defeats against India.

"In 2021 our team performed really well and we won some very good matches," Afridi said after being given the award.

"I had many good performances including five-fors in Tests but the most memorable one for me would be the one we won against India," he added.

"It was a historical match and matches with India draw a big audience."

Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi was named the ICC men's cricketer of 2021. He became the youngest recipient of the award at 21. AP
Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi was named the ICC men's cricketer of 2021. He became the youngest recipient of the award at 21. AP
Shaheen Afridi decimated India's top order during 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai. Reuters
Shaheen Afridi decimated India's top order during 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai. Reuters
Pakistan players celebrate with Shaheen Afridi after the dismissal of India's KL Rahul during the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai. AP
Pakistan players celebrate with Shaheen Afridi after the dismissal of India's KL Rahul during the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai. AP
Shaheen Afridi celebrates after taking the wicket of Australia captain Aaron Finch during the T20 World Cup semi-final in Dubai. AFP
Shaheen Afridi celebrates after taking the wicket of Australia captain Aaron Finch during the T20 World Cup semi-final in Dubai. AFP
Shaheen Afridi has become a star in a short period. AP
Shaheen Afridi has become a star in a short period. AP
Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi has emerged as the leading bowler in the world across formats and leagues. AP
Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi has emerged as the leading bowler in the world across formats and leagues. AP
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- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France

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British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

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ICC men's cricketer of the year

2004 - Rahul Dravid (IND) ; 2005 - Jacques Kallis (SA) and Andrew Flintoff (ENG); 2006 - Ricky Ponting (AUS); 2007 - Ricky Ponting; 2008 - Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI); 2009 - Mitchell Johnson (AUS); 2010 - Sachin Tendulkar (IND); 2011 - Jonathan Trott (ENG); 2012 - Kumar Sangakkara (SL); 2013 - Michael Clarke (AUS); 2014 - Mitchell Johnson; 2015 - Steve Smith (AUS); 2016 - Ravichandran Ashwin (IND); 2017 - Virat Kohli (IND); 2018 - Virat Kohli; 2019 - Ben Stokes (ENG); 2021 - Shaheen Afridi

Updated: January 25, 2022, 4:27 AM
India CricketPakistan CricketT20 World CupUAE