India vice-captain Virat Kohli was adjudged the International Cricketer of the Year. Kohli beat Hashim Amla, Kumar Sangakkara and Michael Clarke to bag the award. Kohli was the top run-getter for India in both Tests and ODIs last year, and his career-best 183 came against Pakistan in the Asia Cup in March last year.
Delhi youngster Unmukt Chand, who led India to the U-19 World Cup win last year, got the inaugural Indian Youngster of the Year award. "It is a great honour for me. The World Cup win was special for us. This is my second award and I hope such awards will boost my confidence in the future," he said.
Pakistan bagged the top honours for the best team at the CEAT Cricket Rating Awards 2011-12 season. Legendary fast bowler Akram, who also collected the award on behalf of the Pakistan team, said it was a great honour for him. Kapil Dev also lauded the Pakistan team. "The Pakistan team has been exceptional. They deserve to win. They have a great batting and bowling attack," said Kapil.
In the special India-Pakistan award category, Kapil Dev, the former Indian World Cup winning captain was awarded the best Test bowler. Kapil Dev was the greatest pace bowler India has produced, and its greatest fast-bowling allrounder. His greatest feats were to lead India almost jauntily, and by his all-round example, to the 1983 World Cup, and to take the world-record aggregate of Test wickets from Hadlee.
In the special India-Pakistan award category, Wasim Akram, the former Pakistan great and captain was awarded the best ODI bowler.
A dream cricketer. He has complete mastery over swing and seam, and sometimes moves the ball both ways in one delivery. All this comes at high speed from a quick, ball-concealing action, and is backed up by the threat of a dangerous bouncer or deceptive slower delivery. Akram is rated by many as the best left-arm fast bowler of all time, and his career record certainly bears that out.
A dream cricketer. He has complete mastery over swing and seam, and sometimes moves the ball both ways in one delivery. All this comes at high speed from a quick, ball-concealing action, and is backed up by the threat of a dangerous bouncer or deceptive slower delivery. Akram is rated by many as the best left-arm fast bowler of all time, and his career record certainly bears that out.
In the special India-Pakistan award category, retired batting great Inzamam-ul-Haq, also a former Pakistan captain, got the award for the best ODI bastman. Inzamam-ul-Haq is a symbiosis of strength and subtlety. Power is no surprise, but sublime touch is remarkable for a man of his bulk. He loathes exercise and often looks a passenger in the field, but with a willow between his palms he is suddenly galvanised.
In the special India-Pakistan award category, India's little master Sunil Gavaskar was honored with the award of the best Test batsman. Sunil Manohar Gavaskar was the first to get 10,000 Test runs and 30 centuries. India's lynchpin of the 70s and 80s, and arguably its first great batsman, he was known for his immaculate defence but was equally at ease hooking and pulling the most fearsome bowlers of all time.
Zaheer Abbas, former Pakistan captain was honoured with the Lifetime Award. In full flow, he was a sight for sore eyes. His avarice for runs matched that of the Australian legend, and that was why he was dubbed the Asian Bradman.The only Asian to have made a century of centuries in first class cricket to date, he really had a Bradmanesque appetite for runs. Nothing reflects this better than his making a century in each innings on eight occasions in a first class match, a world record.
In the special India-Pakistan award category, Pakistan's former explosive opener Saeed Anwar got the best audience choice awards for the 2011-12 season. He held the record for the highest ODI score till Sachin Tendulkar upstaged him, and on his day he was one of the most gracefully compelling players on the international stage.
In the special India-Pakistan award category, Virender Sehwag got the audience choice awards for the 2011-12 season. Regarded as one of the most explosive batsmen around the world, Sehwag is popular both in India and outside. Virender Sehwag has constructed an extraordinary career with a relentless quest, and a genius, for boundary hitting. With minimal footwork but maximum intent, he has piled Test runs at a faster pace than anyone in the history of cricket.