Mohammad Rizwan Adjudged Pakistan's Most Valuable Cricketer Of 2021

Pakistan batter Mohammad Rizwan was deservedly awarded the Most Valuable Cricketer of 2021 by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). He beat the likes of Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Hasan Ali to win the award.

Rizwan scored the most T20I runs (1326) in a calendar year in the history of the format. He also effected 56 dismissals as the wicket-keeper across all three formats. He was also adjudged as the T20I Cricketer of the year by the panel.

“I feel humbled and honoured to have been adjudged Pakistan’s Most Valuable Cricketer of 2021. This is the PCB’s most prestigious award and to be recognised for my contributions in the team’s superlative performances across all formats in 2021 in such a way gives me tremendous satisfaction and happiness,” Rizwan said.

“I give a lot of credit to our bowlers who bowled their hearts out” – Mohammad Rizwan

In the T20 World Cup that took place in the UAE last year, Pakistan won all five of their Super-12 stage games, including a crushing 10-wicket victory over their arch-rivals, India. It was the combined effort of excellent bowling and aggressive batting that took them into the semifinals before bowing out.

“I thought I had an exceptional year in the shortest format of the game when I was able to hit a century early in the year against South Africa and then carry that confidence and momentum for the rest of the year. I give a lot of credit to our bowlers who bowled their hearts out and didn’t let the pressure get onto the batters by maintaining sustained pressure on the opponents throughout the year,” Rizwan added.

PCB Award winners of 2021

Impactful performance of the year – Shaheen Shah Afridi (3-31 v Ind, T20 World Cup)

ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (6 ODIs, 405 runs)

Women’s Cricketer of the Year – Nida Dar (10 ODIs, 363 runs, and 6 wickets; 6 T20Is, 95 runs, and 5 wickets; 146 runs and 14 wickets in Pakistan Women’s Cup)

Test Cricketer of the Year – Hasan Ali (9 Tests, 41 wickets, 5 five-fors, 1 10-for, best match figures 10-114)

T20I Cricketer of the Year – M Rizwan (29 T20Is, 1,326 runs)

Most Valuable Cricketer of the Year – M Rizwan (9 Tests, 455 runs; 6 ODIs, 134 runs; 29 T20Is, 1,326 runs; total dismissal 56)

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