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Popping Crease Player of the Year: Cast your votes!

9/12/2013

 
After a year of Associate cricket, who has stood out for you?

As another year of Associate and Affiliate cricket draws to a close, it's almost the review season, and it's time for you, the readers, to cast your votes. The ICC have their Associate and Affiliate Player of the Year, with their four nominees, but I think they've missed a few crucial names. And besides, it never hurts to get the opinions of those who matter most: the fans.

Popping Crease POTY Shortlist:

PictureCopyright unknown
Hong Kong's Irfan Ahmed was explosive at the top of the order in the Twenty20 format this year. Back in March, his big innings against Malaysia and Singapore saw Hong Kong safely through to the UAE. Once there, it was his blistering century against Canada that set the wheels in motion and put Hong Kong on course for qualification. He was also excellent in the field, and picked up handy wickets.

PicturePhoto by Philip Brown
It has been in first-class cricket that Izatullah Dawlatzai has really made his mark this year. Twenty wickets at 12.95 apiece have made a startling impact in the Intercontinental Cup, and he final, which starts tomorrow, could make or break his season. Still only 22 years old, Dawlatzai has a huge future as a part of the Afghanistan pace battery. However, he was only called upon once in the Qualifier last month.

PicturePhoto by ESPNcricinfo
Ahsan Malik Jamil looked to be having a quiet year for the Dutch when he arrived in the UAE in November. However, as many of his team struggled, Malik had no such troubles. His 21 wickets at exactly ten apiece were vital in the Netherlands edging through in fifth place. He kept things tight, with an economy of under a run-a-ball, and his best performances came when there was most pressure on his team.

PicturePhoto from Hamrocricket
The man with possibly the biggest following outside Test cricket, Paras Khadka is the key man for Nepal. As a general rule of thumb, if Khadka has a good game, Nepal win. If he has a bad game, they lose. In the WCL and Qualifier, he had enough good games to lead Nepal to by far the most successful year in their cricketing history; the WCL Division Three winners are also off to Bangladesh.

PicturePhoto by Mike Hewitt
Scotland have had an exceptionally forgettable year, but without one sparkling young player, it could have been much worse. As most of the batsmen failed, it was Matt Machan who averaged 45 in the UAE; Machan who hit his maiden ODI century before taking three wickets to defeat Kenya in the WCL Championship; Machan who has made the number three spot his own.

PicturePhoto from Sky Sports
Nawroz Mangal's Afghanistan have had a somewhat more impressive year than Scotland, and he has been right at the centre of it. His century against Scotland was a top class innings, but just as important were the contributions of 30 or 40 that he always seemed to make in low-scoring WCL matches. Afghanistan are now in both World Cups, and it is no fluke.

PicturePhoto from the BBC
The Leinster captain and Ireland star Kevin O'Brien has had another explosive season in 2013. He was below par in his various T20 freelance outings, but when he was back playing for Irish sides, he was right at the peak of his game. A ton for Leinster and unbeaten, tie-stealing 84 against Pakistan stand out as the jewels in his crown, but his canny medium-pace and hard-hitting consistency were always influential.

PicturePhoto from the ICC
He might not be the one who spent time with the Rajasthan Royals, but Basanta Regmi has been Nepal's most consistent spinner. His 14-wicket performance at the Qualifier was all the more impressive given that as well as looking forwards, he has to constantly look over his shoulder at the other spin talent vying for his place in the team. As well as his wicket-taking capability, he was also extremely economical.

PicturePhoto from the BBC
My own personal vote for this award isn't even on the ICC shortlist, but Paul Stirling has had another fantastic year. He twice scored hundreds against Full Members in the summer, one against Pakistan in the tied ODI and one against the Australians in their first-class game. He was also by far the most valuable player at the Qualifier, whoever the Player of the Tournament turned out to be, and is now a real all-rounder.

PicturePhoto from Dreamcricket
Last, but by no means least, Florida's Steven Taylor hasn't stopped being excellent all year. Some of his best innings include: 95 and 127* against the Caymans, and 101 against Bermuda (in the Americas T20); 162 against Nepal, and 97 against Bermuda (in WCL Division Three); 91 against Italy, 44 against Namibia and 42 against the UAE. The man has scored runs for fun.

Which one of those ten will win the Player of the Year? I have no idea yet - it's your job to decide.
Final Results

Paras Khadka 
 - 48.32% (14,331 votes)

Nawroz Mangal 
 - 47.5% (14,088 votes)

Izatullah Dawlatzai 
 - 1.75% (518 votes)

Basanta Regmi 
 - 1.22% (361 votes)

Matt Machan 
 - 0.5% (148 votes)

Kevin O'Brien 
 - 0.24% (70 votes)

Paul Stirling 
 - 0.17% (50 votes)

Ahsan Malik Jamil 
 - 0.11% (34 votes)

Irfan Ahmed 
 - 0.11% (33 votes)

Steven Taylor 
 - 0.09% (26 votes)

Total Votes: 29,659
Eitan Shai
10/12/2013 01:26:15 am

You missed quite a few, such as Mohammad Nabi from Afghanistan, Kyle Coetzer from Scotland, Shaiman Anwar from UAE, Tony Ura from PNG, and last but not least, the fastest bowler in the Associate world, Saheed Akolade from Nigeria!
My vote goes to Akolade or Anwar

Martin link
10/12/2013 02:01:02 am

Eitan, I know you have fantastic knowledge of the Associate game, but you can't just throw names at me. I've picked a short-list of ten, and those are the ten who have been most influential in my eyes.

Najeem Zazai link
11/12/2013 05:05:00 am

I would like to give my vote to Nawroz Mangal because he has been one of the best batsman who has played really well. He has taken out his team many times out of danger and give them the victories. He is a classic batsman and comparing to others, he is better than others and mostly deserves the award.

Martin link
11/12/2013 03:22:46 pm

Many thanks to all of those who have commented.

However, it is likely that your comment will be deleted, as the platform for my blog simply cannot handle the quantity. Your opinions are always valued, though.

Dipendra Niraula
12/12/2013 01:44:11 am

A Dynamic Cricketer from South Asia and probably the most watchable captain in todays Cricket between Non test playing Country. Hip Hip Hurray to Paras and NEPAL.

Martin link
13/12/2013 12:52:58 pm

Many thanks to all those of you who have voted. Voting is now closed, so the results are as follows:

Paras Khadka 48.32% (14,331 votes)
Nawroz Mangal 47.5% (14,088 votes)
Izatullah Dawlatzai 1.75% (518 votes)
Basanta Regmi 1.22% (361 votes)
Matt Machan 0.5% (148 votes)
Kevin O'Brien 0.24% (70 votes)
Paul Stirling 0.17% (50 votes)
Ahsan Malik Jamil 0.11% (34 votes)
Irfan Ahmed 0.11% (33 votes)
Steven Taylor 0.09% (26 votes)

Total Votes: 29,659

Umesh Thapa link
18/12/2013 12:19:51 am

Congratulation to Paras.He deserves to win after his fine all-round performances in recent T20 WC Qualification in UAE.Nepal created history because of his outstanding leadership.I can gurante you he deserves more than this vote which he has got.He is the hero of Nepalese sport.


Comments are closed.

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    The Author

    Martin Jones is a teenage cricketer with an obsessive interest in the game, particularly the more obscure and quirky areas of it that don't get enough attention. He has also written articles for Planet Cricket, Third Man Cricket and ESPN Cricinfo.

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