Sphiwe Masilela
Anrich Nortje and Shabnim Ismail have won the highest accolades that Cricket South Africa (CSA) can present to individual players.
At the CSA awards, which were held virtually on Monday, Nortje was named Men’s Cricketer of the Year and Ismael was awarded Women’s Cricketer of the Year.
The traditional gala ceremony was the latest to be stifled by lockdown restrictions but that wouldn’t have dampened the spirits of the winners, who were announced on various social media platforms.
It was a big night in particular for Ismail, who was also named the Momentum Women’s Twenty20 International Cricketer of the Year, South African Women’s Players’ Player of the Year, Test Cricketer of the Year and South African Fans’ Cricketer of the year.
Ismail, South Africa’s all-time leading wicket taker in both One Day and T20 international formats, also shared a tied vote with Aiden Markram, the South African Men’s Players’ Player of the Year.
Ismail joins Marizanne Kapp (2013/14) and Dane van Niekerk (2016/17) as multiple winners in the professional era.
It was no different for Nortje, Newcomer of the Year in 2020. In less than one season, Nortje became the 12th player to win the premier men’s award and he also made history by being named International Newcomer of the Year and Men’s Cricket of the Year in successive years.
Nortje, who also won the Test Cricketer of the Year accolade made his international debut for the Proteas in March 2019.
Rassie van der Dussen, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lezelle Lee, Wiaan Mulder and George Linde were winners in various categories.
Image source: @AnrichNortje02 & @ICC
