ICC prunes awards shortlist

Two weeks after announcing the nominations for the various ICC Awards categories, the ICC today announced a further culling.

As a result, several players have now been dropped from the categories to which they were nominated.

Dravid and Ponting are left out from the 'Player of the Year' list.

Chanderpaul, Lara, Martyn, Kumble, McGrath, Ponting, Kaneria, Sangakkara, Sehwag, Harbhajan and Younis Khan drop off from the 'Test Player of the Year' list. There goes my prediction on Sehwag getting the award. Ironically enough, although Inzamam is a contender for award, the ICC did not think he was good enough to represent the World XI. He was then called up when Tendulkar withdrew. Incensed, he refused the invitation and finally accepted it.

The 'ODI Player of the Year' has a lot of censoring as well. From the original list, Dravid, Gibbs, Inzamam, McGrath, Kemp, Ponting, Sangakkara, Shoaib Malik, Graeme Smith, Trescothick, Vaas, Vettori and Youhana drop out. There goes yet another prediction on Inzamam winning the prize.

As for the 'Emerging Player of the Year', Gambhir and Manjurul Islam Rana exit stage left.

Now my picks are
Player of the Year: Flintoff
Test Player of the Year: Warne
ODI Player of the Year: Flintoff or Lee
Emerging Player of the Year: Pietersen

Who're your picks?

Labels: icc awards, pietersen