Three Pakistani players were nominated in the Twenty20 international performance of the year category for the International Cricket Council (ICC) annual awards. Pakistan women’s team captain Sana Mir earned a nomination in the women cricketer of the year category & two Pakistani umpires on the ICC Elite Panel, Aleem Dar and Asad Rauf have been nominated in the umpire of the year category along with current holder Simon Taufel.

Shahid Afridi was nominated for three performances, including those in the semi-final and the final, while Umar Gul was nominated for two performances (against Australia in Dubai and against New Zealand at the World Twenty20), while Saeed Ajmal was nominated for his 4-19 against Ireland in the same tournament. Gul has also been nominated for the ODI player of the year category.

Nominations:

Shahid Afridi; Nominated for three separate performances, all during the ICC World Twenty20 2009 (WT20) –

1. He took 4-11 against the Netherlands at Lord’s on 9 June;
2. He scored 51 off 34 balls and took 2-16 against South Africa during the semi-final in Nottingham on 18 June;
3. And he took 1-20 and scored 54 not out off 40 balls against Sri Lanka in the final at Lord’s on 21 June

Saeed Ajmal:

1. Took 4-19 against Ireland at the Oval during the WT20 on 15 June

Umar Gul: Nominated for two performances –

1. Took 4-8 against Australia in Dubai on 7 May
2. And took 5-6 against New Zealand during the WT20 at The Oval on 13 June

The Awards will also be handed out to the emerging player, women’s cricketer and umpire of the year, and will be presented in Johannesburg on Oct. 1. The test and ODI teams of the year will also be selected and an award to the team that has adhered most to the spirit of cricket will also be named.