Pakistani test cricket captain, Misbah ul Haq is awarded with ICC Spirit of Cricket Award 2016 and he became the first ever Pakistani player, who is awarded with this beautiful award.
Misbah is the leading test captain and he showed his spirit in the test cricket and inspired his side to play the game in true spirit. He played tremendously and lifted the Pakistani team from the number four to the number one in the ICC test team rankings. Pakistani cricket team achieved this awarded without playing any test series on the home soil.
The previous winners of the ICC Spirit of Cricket award are MS Dhoni, who won this title in 2011, Daniel Vettori won in 2012, Mahela Jayawardene in 2013, Katherine Brunt in 2014 and Brendon McCullum in 2015. New Zealand cricket team won this award in the years of 2004, 2009, and 2010, England won this award in 2005 and 2006 and Sri Lanka won this award in 2007 and 2008.
Misbah commented on this news and said that he was feeling proud and honored to win the ICC Spirit of Cricket award. He helped his team to lift from the number four to reach at the number one in the test ranking in the twilight of his cricket career. He performed well in his test career and he maintained his highest fitness level and continued performing according to the international standards.
The players have focused on the play within the rich conditions and traditions of sport with the positive mindset and the approach is consistent, which can help him to entertain the fans and spectators and they also have challenged the opposition. He has noticed and recognized the game and the governing body by their excellent work.
Winners of ICC Awards 2016
ICC Cricketer of the Year: Ravichandran Ashwin (India)
ICC Test Cricketer of the Year: Ravichandran Ashwin (India)
ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year: Quinton de Kock (South Africa)
ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year: Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh)
ICC T20I Performance of the Year: Carlos Brathwaite (West Indies)
ICC Associate/Affiliate Cricketer of the Year: Mohammad Shahzad (Afghanistan)
ICC Spirit of Cricket Award 2016: Misbah-ul-Haq (Pakistan)
ICC Umpire of the Year: Marais Erasmus