The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the recipients of its prestigious annual awards for 2024, honoring exceptional talents from around the globe. Among the notable awardees, India's Jasprit Bumrah and New Zealand's Amelia Kerr have made remarkable achievements. Bumrah was named the ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year, while Kerr was awarded the Women's Cricketer of the Year. Arshdeep Singh, another Indian cricketer, received the accolade of Men's T20 Cricketer of the Year, following his instrumental role in India's victorious T20 World Cup campaign.
Jasprit Bumrah's accolades for 2024 were manifold. Apart from being named the Men's Cricketer of the Year, he also clinched the Men's Test Cricketer of the Year award. His return to the five-day format in late 2023, after recovering from a back injury, highlighted his resilience and skill. With a bowling average of 14.92 and a strike rate of 30.1, Bumrah's performance was pivotal for India throughout the year.
“I am truly honored to receive the Sir Garfield Sobers Award, and this recognition means so much to me,” said Jasprit Bumrah. “I am grateful to the cricketing fraternity for this appreciation, which I share with India, my family, and my teammates. My focus remains on contributing to the team and striving to achieve our collective goals.”
Amelia Kerr's prowess was celebrated as she not only won the Women's Cricketer of the Year but also the Women's T20 Cricketer of the Year award. Her consistent performances have been a cornerstone for her team's successes, earning her recognition on this esteemed platform.
In addition to these honors, Smriti Mandhana was voted Women's One-Day International (ODI) Cricketer of the Year for the second time, underscoring her dominance in the format. Mandhana expressed her gratitude and pride in representing her country at such a high level.
“It is an immense joy and a matter of pride to represent my country at the highest level and it makes me happy to play a role in helping the team succeed,” stated Smriti Mandhana. “I want to dedicate this award to my teammates, coaches and family who have been my absolute pillars of support.”
Azmatullah Omarzai's stellar performance in ODIs earned him the Men's ODI Cricketer of the Year title. He amassed 417 runs and took 17 wickets over the year, showcasing his all-round capabilities.
The emerging talent category recognized Kamindu Mendis as the Men's Emerging Cricketer of the Year and Annerie Dercksen as the Women's Emerging Cricketer of the Year. Their promising performances have set high expectations for their future contributions to the sport.
In the Associate Cricketers category, Gerhard Erasmus was named Men's Associate Cricketer of the Year, while Esha Oza was honored as Women's Associate Cricketer of the Year. Their achievements highlight the growing talent pool in associate nations.
Richard Illingworth took home the Umpire of the Year award, acknowledging his excellence and commitment to officiating in international cricket.
