Very Special To Be Named South Africa\'s Men\'s Cricketer Of The Year: Keshav Maharaj

The honor is very special. the South African Men’s Cricketer of the Year. Keshav Maharaj

Johannesburg 15 August : Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj said it was very special to be deemed the Cricketer of the Year for Men.of the Year in the 2021-22 Cricket South Africa (CSA) Awards ceremony that was held virtually.
In the past 12 months, Maharaj has established his place as an all-format cricketer, having played in 13 T20Is, eight ODIs and numerous Test matches, grabbing 51 wickets.Maharaj, who is 32 was able to make his T20I and captaincy debut in the tour to Sri Lanka last year.

 Very Special To Be Named South Africa's Men's Cricketer Of The Year: Keshav Maha-TeluguStop.com

After securing his maiden T20I wicket with the first ball he played Maharaj was able to play in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the UAE.

In Test games, Maharaj had a great start when he became the second South African bowler and first spinner to record a three-wicket with successive dismissals of Kieran Powell, Jason Holder, and Joshua Da Silva in the second game against the West Indies at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground.He continued to end the season with outstanding statistics of 7-32 in the first Test against Bangladesh at Durban the ground he grew up on.

“Wow when I learned about this, I nearly collapsed in tears.It’s certainly one of the most humble but also the most rewarding moment in my professional life.You have a dream of being a player for South Africa, never think you’ll get there.And then you are able to be named the South African Men’s Cricketer of the Year.It’s truly special.”

“I am truly grateful and privileged to have received this award.I hope I can go with my progress, and continue to raise the bar to help the team more importantly to reach the top spot in all types of the game, and hopefully be the first team to win the World Cup,” said Maharaj.

In addition to Maharaj’s award Women’s pacer Ayabonga Khaka was also deemed as the Female Cricketer of the Year.Both players were also winners of the Players’ Player of the Year Award.

Ayabonga was awarded for her stellar year with the ball as she took an aggregate of 31 wickets in all formats with her playing a major role in the four-pronged bowling attack to the Proteas women in 18 ODIs and three T20Is.She started her season with an impressive nine-wicket performance in the West Indies in September last year, when South Africa won both ODI and T20I series.

In the second tour that was hosted in Johannesburg in the beginning of 2022, Ayabonga clinched a maiden career five-wicket haul, before finishing with the most wickets in the series with 10 to ensure that South Africa clinched the four-match ODI series.

“I feel humbled and honored to be named the player of the Year.

It is especially so in a time when everyone had a wonderful season.It is a huge honor for me as the award (Player’s Player of the Year) is an award given by my colleagues.

I would like to express my gratitude to them for acknowledging my contribution to the team.Thank you to my coaches, and the efforts they make to assist me in improving my game,” stated Ayabonga.

She continued her stunning performance into the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand, becoming only the fifth South African woman to take 100 wickets in ODI play in the tournament’s opening match against Bangladesh.South Africa finished their World Cup campaign in the semi-finals with Ayabonga scoring 12 scalps to place sixth on the list of wicket-taker’s.

“Their work isn’t unnoticed.Thank my family and friends for the love and support I receive regardless of the situation.

I would also like to acknowledge my team members for the help they’ve provided me, my contribution would not have been praised in the absence of them.I would like to thank all cricket supporters for their loyalty.

I want them to continue until the end of the day and never let up,” said Ayabonga.

nr/inj

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on WhatsAppFollow Us on Twitter