Johannesburg – Cricket SA (CSA) on Tuesday congratulated members of the Proteas Castle Lager Test and ODI squads who were nominated for the ICC awards as well as those who were selected in the ICC World XI's in the respective formats.
“We are very proud of our players and it is once again a wonderful reflection on our Castle Lager Test squad that the Proteas are the major contributors to the ICC World Test XI for the second successive year,” CSA chief executive Haroon Lorgat said in a statement.
Hashim Amla was nominated for the ICC's top award Ä the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the Cricketer of the Year Ä as well as for the Test Cricketer of the Year award.
Dale Steyn was also nominated for the Test Cricketer of the Year award, while Dane van Niekerk, a member of the national women's team, was short-listed for the women's ODI Cricketer of the Year.
Marais Erasmus was nominated for ICC Umpire of the Year.
Amla, Steyn, AB de Villiers and Vernon Philander were selected for the ICC World Test XI of the Year and Amla and De Villiers for the ICC World ODI XI for the year.
“This is the sixth time that Dale has made the select XI which must surely be some kind of record while Hashim has been nominated for the fourth time.
“Hashim is our current South African Cricketer of the Year and it would be a wonderful achievement if he could do the double by being named the ICC Cricketer of the Year as well.
“Both Hashim and AB remain among the top ranked players in the world in ODI cricket in spite of the struggles the Proteas have had in this format.”
The winners of the various ICC awards will be announced on December 14. – Sapa