Dubai, Dec 29 (Agency) International Cricket Council (ICC) revealed Men’s T20I Player of the Year nominees on Wednesday. Two wicketkeeper-batters and two all-rounders are shortlisted for the top honours. England’s Jos Buttler, Wanindu Hasaranga of Sri Lanka, Australia’s Mitchell Marsh and Mohammad Rizwan from Pakistan have been shortlisted for their outstanding achievements in 2021. Buttler scored 589 runs in 14 matches at 65.44 with one century and 13 dismissals to his name in the calendar year. Heading into T20 World Cup with a sublime form, the wicketkeeper-batter ended the tournament as England’s leading run-scorer with 269 runs. Sri Lanka’s bowling all-rounder Hasaranga claimed 36 wickets in 20 matches at an average of 11.63 and scored 196 runs including one half-century.
Hasaranga ended the T20 World Cup 2021 campaign as the leading wicket-taker with 16 scalps and also played some handy knocks with the bat, including 71 against Ireland. Australia’s Marsh has 627 runs in 27 matches at 36.88; 8 wickets at 18.37 to his credit in the year 2021. The all-rounder played an unbeaten 77-run knock against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final and was adjudged the Player of the Match. With his scintillating performance, Marsh ensured Australia chase down the challenging 173 target in 18.5 overs, and crowned the winners of the T20 World Cup for the first time. Pakistan’s Rizwan has scored 1326 runs in 29 matches at an average of 73.66 with one century and has 24 dismissals to his name. The wicketkeeper-batter played a vital role in Pakistan’s run to the semifinals during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where he ended up as the third-highest run-scorer.