Shabnim Ismail and Anrich Nortje Claim Top Honours at CSA Awards

The annual Cricket South Africa (CSA) Awards ceremony held in Midrand celebrated the achievements of top cricketers in the country. Shabnim Ismail and Anrich Nortje emerged as the standout performers, winning the SA Women’s and Men’s Player of the Year awards, respectively. The gala event, themed “A Summer to Celebrate,” marked a return to in-person gatherings after a hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Let’s take a closer look at the noteworthy winners and their accomplishments.

Shabnim Ismail: SA Women’s Player of the Year

Shabnim Ismail, a retired international cricketer, secured her third SA Women’s Player of the Year award, showcasing her incredible talent and contributions to the Proteas Women’s team. Ismail played a crucial role in the team’s successful campaign at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, where they reached their first-ever final. Her exceptional skills as a pace bowler made her a formidable force on the field.

Anrich Nortje: Men’s Player of the Year

Anrich Nortje, a consistent performer for the Proteas across all formats, clinched the Men’s Player of the Year award. Nortje’s consistent pace and accuracy earned him recognition as one of the top players in South African cricket. This is Nortje’s second time claiming the prestigious award, highlighting his remarkable skills and impact on the national team.

Other Remarkable Performances

Nonkululeko Mlaba, a talented left-arm spinner, enjoyed a double honor at the awards ceremony. She received the Women’s T20 International Player of the Year award and the Women’s Players’ Player of the Year award, underlining her exceptional contributions to the Proteas Women’s team. Laura Wolvaardt was recognized as the Women’s One-Day International Player of the Year, while Sinalo Jafta earned the Fans’ Player of the Year title, showcasing the growing popularity of women’s cricket.

In the men’s category, Kagiso Rabada’s impressive performances secured him the Test Player of the Year award for the second consecutive year. Temba Bavuma, the One-Day International captain, was honored as the Men’s One-Day International Player of the Year. Reeza Hendricks claimed the Men’s T20 International Player of the Year award, while Gerald Coetzee was named the International Men’s Newcomer of the Year. David Miller’s peers recognized him as the Men’s Players’ Player of the Year.

Outstanding Performances in Domestic Cricket

Beyers Swanepoel from the Warriors showcased his exceptional skills by winning the Division 1 4-Day Domestic Series Player of the Season award and the SACA Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Season award. Lions batter Ryan Rickelton stood out as the Division 1 One-Day Cup Player of the Season and the Domestic Players’ Player of the Season. Other notable winners included Mondli Khumalo, who received the Makhaya Ntini Power of Cricket Award for his resilience, and Adrian Holdstock, who claimed both the CSA Umpire of the Year and CSA Umpires’ Umpire of the Year titles.

Conclusion:

Cricket South Africa’s 2023 awards evening was a resounding success, showcasing the best of South African cricket. The event was particularly noteworthy for introducing pathway award categories, acknowledging the talent and potential of emerging cricketers. Here is the complete list of winners who were honored for their outstanding performances:

AWARD WINNERS

PROFESSIONAL AWARDS: NATIONAL

SA Women’s Player of the Year: Shabnim Ismail

Women’s T20 International Player of the Year: Nonkululeko Mlaba

Women’s One-Day International Player of the Year: Laura Wolvaardt

Women’s Players’ Player of the Year: Nonkululeko Mlaba

SA Men’s Player of the Year: Anrich Nortje

Test Player of the Year: Kagiso Rabada

One-Day International Player of the Year: Temba Bavuma

T20 International Cricketer of the Year: Reeza Hendricks

International Men’s Newcomer of the Year: Gerald Coetzee

SA Men Players’ Player of the Year: David Miller

SA Fans’ Player of the Year: Sinalo Jafta

Best Delivery Fuelled by KFC: Kagiso Rabada

PROFESSIONAL AWARDS: DOMESTIC

Division 1 4-Day Domestic Series Player of the Season: Beyers Swanepoel (Warriors)

Division 2 4-Day Domestic Series Player of the Season: Rivaldo Moonsamy (Northern Cape Heat)

Division 1 One-Day Cup Player of the Season: Ryan Rickelton (Lions)

Division 2 One-Day Cup Player of the Season: Joshua van Heerden (Eastern Cape Iinyathi)

CSA T20 Challenge Player of the Season: Bamanye Xenxe (Rocks)

Division 1 Coach of the Year: Mandla Mashimbyi (Titans)

Division 2 Coach of the Year: Mark Charlton (Northern Cape Heat)

Domestic Players’ Player of the Season: Ryan Rickelton (DP World Lions)

Domestic Newcomer of the Season: Jordan Hermann (Dafabet Warriors)

SACA Most Valuable Player Award: Beyers Swanepoel (Dafabet Warriors)

Makhaya Ntini Power of Cricket Award: Mondli Khumalo

PROFESSIONAL AWARDS: OPERATIONS

CSA Umpires’ Umpire of the Year: Adrian Holdstock

CSA Umpire of the Year: Adrian Holdstock

The inclusion of the pathway award categories added further prestige to the event, recognizing the rising stars and the importance of nurturing young talent. As well as contributions and players from different senior cricket categories, Congratulations to all the winners for their remarkable achievements and Cricket South Africa for hosting a memorable awards evening.

PATHWAY AWARDS WINNERS:

CSA Women’s Provincial Player of the Year: Tazmin Brits (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers)

CSA U19 Women’s Player of the Year: Karabo Meso

CSA Student Player of the Year: JP King (North West)

CSA Fairplay Award: Ismail Minty (North West Dragons)

RPC and Hubs Coach of the Year: Warren Bell (Gelvandale Hub, Eastern Province)

CSA Veterans Cricketer of the Year: Alan Dawson

CSA Intellectually Impaired Player of the Year: Mpho Selaolane

CSA Deaf Cricket Player of the Year: Arthur McGee

CSA Blind Cricket Player of the Year: Sphelele Khalala

National T20 Women’s Club Player of the Tournament: Alysia Rudolph (Avion CC, Easterns)

Khaya Majola Cricket Week Player of the Tournament: Bongile Mfunelwa (Western Province)