ICC's highest accolade named after Sobers

The Player-of-the-Year award, the highest accolade from the ICC, has been named in honour of Sir Garfield Sobers. The International Cricket Council announced that the player voted as the best player of the year would be presented with the Garfield Sobers Trophy. The ICC's inaugural awards ceremony will be held at Alexandra Palace in London on Tuesday, September 7.

Sobers, who many regard as the greatest cricketer to play the game, was understandably delighted that the award was named after him. "I have been fortunate to enjoy a long association with a game that I and millions of others around the world cherish, and I appreciate this honour which has been initiated on my behalf, and I wish all those players who have been nominated as Player of the Year the very best of luck."

Three individuals - Richie Benaud, Sunil Gavaskar and Michael Holding - were asked to nominate a player after whom to name the award, and they recommended Sobers to the ICC. "When asked to nominate an individual, after whom the Player-of-the-Year award covering every aspect of cricket should be named, we chose Sir Garfield Sobers," said Benaud. "The trophy bears the name of cricket's finest allrounder, a legend of the game, and it will mean a great deal to the chosen player on Tuesday night."

Ehsan Mani, the ICC president, explained the decision: "Sobers was an outstanding allrounder, a wonderful ambassador, and a man who has inspired generations of cricketers to play the game with flair and passion. It is fitting that we name the Player-of-the-Year award - international cricket's highest individual honour - after this legend of the sport."

Sobers, who was knighted for his services to cricket in 1975, was also the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1964 and was chosen as one of Wisden's cricketers of the century in 2000. He played 93 Tests and scored 8032 runs at an average of nearly 58 with 26 centuries. His top score of 365 not out stood as a record for many years before it was beaten by Brian Lara. In addition he took 235 wickets at an average of less than 35 with a mixture of left-arm pace and spin.