Shabnim Ismail named South African Cricketer of the Year at CSA Awards 2021

Cricket South Africa Awards 2021 held virtually on Monday (May 31). She was also named T20 International Cricketer of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year. Batter Lizelle Lee was named One Day International Cricketer of the Year.

“Very happy to be named the player of the season, it means the hard work I have been putting on behind the scenes have been paying off. I am chuffed with the performances I have been putting in has been really successful for me. I am just really grateful to win the award and it’s another accolade, another achievement added to cabinet, said Ismail after receiving the awards.

Ismail, who was crowned Cricketer of the Year in 2015, joined Marizanne Kapp and Dane van Niekerk as the third player to win the coveted award multiple times.  The 32-year-old Ismail is the leading wicket-taker for South Africa in both formats this year with 14 wickets in eight ODIs at an average of 22.92 and another 11 wickets from six T20Is including her career-best T20I figures of 5 for 12 against Pakistan.

“Shabnim is the fastest bowler on the women’s international circuit, and she has been the leader of our Proteas attack for a long time now. She is the only South African to have taken 100 wickets in the T20 International format and she recently passed the significant landmark of 150 wickets in ODI cricket,” said Pholetsi Moseki, CSA Acting Chief Executive, while congratulating the winners.

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“She has played a huge role in enabling our Proteas to break into the top group of countries with a world ranking of No. 2 in the ODI format. Genuine fast bowling remains one of the great and thrilling sights of our game and we are indeed blessed to continue to produce world leaders in this demanding skill.”

Lee is the highest run-getter for South Africa in ODIs this year with 384 runs from seven ODIs at an average of 76.80 with a century and two fifties. Her career-best knock of 132 not out against India in the 3^rd ODI in Lucknow has also won her the Streetwise Award at the virtual award ceremony.

With no player being nominated in the Women’s International Newcomer of the Year category, ‘Black Day Kit’ South Africa wore during the second ODI against Pakistan at Durban to draw attention towards domestic violence against women and children was named the winner of the award.



List of Winners:

Cricketer of the Year: Shabnim Ismail

ODI Cricketer of the Year: Lizelle Lee

T20I Cricketer of the Year: Shabnim Ismail

Player’s Player of the Year: Shabnim Ismail

Newcomer of the Year: Black Day ODI Kit

Streetwise award: Lizelle Lee (132* v India, 3rd ODI in Lucknow)