The ongoing T20 World Cup 2022 will see England and Pakistan locking horns in the much-awaited final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday (November 13). This year’s edition saw some remarkable performances from players, while many contests went down to the wire, keeping the thrill at the top for the fans.
Recently, the International Cricket Council (ICC) nominated nine spectacular performers for the Player of the Tournament shortlist. Now the captains of two finalists – Jos Buttler and Babar Azam – have also named their choices for the Player of the Tournament.
Buttler went with India’s batting sensation Suryakumar Yadav, who had a massive impact on his team in the T20 World Cup, thanks to his consistency with the bat. Heading into the final, Yadav is the third-highest run-scorer in the global competition with 239 runs at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 189.68, including three half-centuries.
“I think Suryakumar Yadav. I think Suryakumar Yadav for me, has been someone who’s played with extreme freedom. He’s been incredibly eye-catching to watch in such a star-studded line-up. To stand out the way he has is amazing,” said Buttler in a chat with host Sanjana Ganesan.
Buttler also mentioned two English players who are strong contenders for the award, as they performed exceptionally well in the tournament. The England wicketkeeper-batter named Sam Curran and Alex Hales and reckoned that if the duo put up a good show in the final, they could be the Player of the Tournament for him.
“Of course, there’s a couple of our guys on that sheet as well – Sam Curran and Alex Hales. If they put in a great performance in the final, they can be the Player of the Tournament for me,” Buttler added.
Likewise, Pakistan skipper Babar was also quizzed with the same question, and he spent no time in picking his teammate Shadab Khan. Babar heaped praises on the star all-rounder for his immense contribution in all three departments.
“I think it should be Shadab Khan for the way he is playing. While his bowling has been outstanding, his batting also improved quite a bit. His dominating performances in the last three games, along with his outstanding fielding, makes him a prime contender for the Player of the Tournament,” said Babar.