Sachin Tendulkar is ICC's Player of the Year

Sachin Tendulkar

“Better late than never.” That’s how Sachin Tendulkar reacted when asked as to why it took him so long to win the ICC Cricketer of the Year award. But on Wednesday, Tendulkar finally got what he deserved for long as he won the coveted award at a glittering function here. Tendulkar became only the second Indian — Rahul Dravid had won it at the inaugural awards ceremony in 2004 — to win the big prize.

It was double bonanza for Tendulkar who also won the inaugural ‘People’s Choice’ award. The maestro also made it to the ICC World ODI XI as well as the Test XI.

Tendulkar could have won four awards, but Virender Sehwag edged past him to be adjudged ICC Test Cricketer of the Year. Sehwag obviously found a place in the World Test XI. In the ODI Player of the Year category, Tendulkar lost out to South Africa’s AB de Villiers.

“To get these awards it’s really special. It started six years ago but as I said earlier it’s better late than never,” Tendulkar said. “It’s a way of appreciating one’s performance and I am feeling really good. It feels wonderful to have these trophies with me. Last season was really special for me as well as the entire Indian team,” Tendulkar added.

Not many were surprised when ICC president Sharad Pawar announced Sachin Tendulkar’s name ahead of Hashim Amla (SA), Sehwag and Graeme Swann (Eng). It was the year that Tendulkar reached new heights in ODIs. First came the 175-run knock against Australia in Hyderabad — albeit in a losing cause — and then the big one, the majestic, historic, and mind-numbing double-hundred against South Africa in Gwalior.

Tendulkar played 17 ODIs and scored 914 runs, including three centuries. His Test record was equally great. In 10 matches, he scored 1,064 runs at an average of 81.25 with six centuries.

Wednesday’s party didn’t end there as India skipper MS Dhoni found a place in both the World Test XI and World ODI XI. In fact, he was named captain of the World Test XI.

The ICC also inducted Courtney Walsh, Joel Garner, Rachael Heyhoe Flint and the late Ken Barrington into the ICC Hall of Fame, with Flint becoming the first woman player to be inducted into the elite club.

Pakistan cricket a victim of conspiracy: PCB chief

Islamabad: Stung by the latest spot-fixing allegations against his team, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt on Sunday said the the international media had conspired against the national team. Butt the board is collecting evidence to prepare its defence. Call off Pak tour of England: Stewart, Flower Talking to GEO TV on Sunday, Butt said: "We will take up this matter in the meeting of International Cricket Council on October 11." "We will talk to the English cricket board as well on the efforts to marginalize Pakistani cricket." "I am feeling the stress because of these developments and we would like to sort these out as early as possible," he said. Butt, however, refused to comment on reports that he was on his way out. Butt was livid when asked about the charges being pressed by the Scotland Yard against the team members. "You have not done your homework," Butt said. "No charges have yet been pressed by the Scotland Yard team," he said, adding that the players had maintained their innocence. ICC needs to act quickly on match-fixing: Ponting "We will also protest with the International Cricket Council (ICC) for not taking the PCB into confidence on the issue of spot-fixing scandal." Butt's remarks came a day after the ICC launched a formal investigation into Pakistan's victory against England in the third ODI at The Oval. The Pakistan team is already reeling under charges of spot-fixing against captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif during the fourth Test and Lord's against England.

CL T20: Mumbai bow out despite thrilling win

Durban: An absolute thrilling cameo from Virat Kohli (47 off 24 balls) turned the 165-run chase into a spine-chilling last-ball climax that eventually ended with Bangalore losing by just two runs at Kingsmead on Sunday. Mumbai, though, crashed out of the tournament despite winning.

Chasing the Mumbai score after Sachin Tendulkar elected to bat first, Old-guards Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis got Bangalore off to a flying start until debutant Abu Nechim struck to remove Kallis (15) and Dwayne Bravo got Robin Uthappa (6) and Ross Taylor (9) caught in quick succession to give Mumbai much-needed breakthroughs.

Indian Statesman Dravid meanwhile completed his half century as the Bangalore team neared 100. But as soon as they crossed the triple-figure mark, Harbhajan Singh castled big-hitting Cameron White (7) to tilt scales in Mumbai's favour.

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli's innings soon gathered momentum, whacking Nechim for a six. The young debutant, though, came back well in the same over to control the damage.

The Delhi batsman Kohli, playing for Bangalore, hit the death-over expert Malinga for three consecutive boundaries in the penultimate over to leave his team needing 13 runs off the last six balls.

Such was the impact of Kohli's 24-ball 47 runs, that it made Dravid's 71-run effort look pedestrian but in the end, both didn't prove enough.

Needing three off the last Zaheer Khan ball, a top-edge off Kohli went straight up that saw wicketkeeper Ambati Rayudu circling under it to safely glove the ball and the match for Mumbai.

Man of the Match Dwayne Bravo was the most successful bowler for Mumbai taking 2/23 in his four overs while Zaheer, Nechim and Harbhajan took one apiece.

Earlier in the evening, Bangalore not only kept Mumbai's scoring in check but also continued to chip in at the wickets, restricting Sachin's team to a scoring rate of just over six at the halfway stage.

Praveen Kumar removed Sachin (11) and Rayudu (3) was lapped in the slips by Rahul Dravid off Vinay Kumar that signaled the worst possible start for Mumbai.

Bangalore bowlers continued to thwart every run-making attempt, with Kallis removing fellow-countrymen Duminy (10) in the process.

Steyn eventually marked his run-up in the 11th over and peppered Tiwary with fast short-pitched stuff. The tactics of holding Steyn back paid the richest dividends possible when Steyn gunned down both Dhawan (41) and the dangerman Pollard (0), reducing Mumbai to a sorry-looking 84/5 in 13 overs.

Bravo's dropped caught and bowled chance by Kumble proved costly, with the West Indian turning it on for Mumbai with a 17-ball cameo of 29 runs. It turned out to be the much-needed fillip for the Mumbai innings that looked in tatters for the most part.

The 18th over, bowled by Kumble, went for 22 runs, where Bravo hit two towering sixes and a boundary. It also brought up the 50-run partnership between Bravo and Tiwary.

Steyn, though, soon took care of Bravo, which saw Tiwary taking over with 38 runs of 30 balls. And when Harbhajan (14) too got a few useful runs at the end, the IPL runners-up notched up a challenging 165/7.

Anil Kumble not only went wicket-less but gave away 45 runs in his four overs. Daley Steyn was the pick of the Bangalore bowlers with 3/26.