Bishoo emerges to win ICC Award
Up-and-coming West Indies leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo has been named as the Emerging Player of the Year 2011 at the LG ICC Awards in London.The 25-year-old, who played in five Test matches in the voting period and took 21 wickets with an average of 35.42, has made an impact within the West Indies side with his attacking approach that yields considerable turn and bounce. He also played in 11 ODIs, bagging 19 wickets at an average of 21.57.
Bishoo was the top choice of the 25-person voting academy, coming in ahead of team-mate Darren Bravo, and Pakistan pair of Wahab Riaz and Azhar Ali.
Unable to attend the awards, Bishoo said: “First of all I’d like to congratulate all the nominees for the ICC Emerging Player of the Year.
“I’d like to thank the ICC for giving me this award and I’m delighted to receive it. I’d like to thank my mother, my manager and all the players who have supported me throughout my career. I’m happy where I am and I am going to keep on working hard for the West Indies and continue to improve and keep playing good cricket.”
The Emerging Player of the Year Award was one of the individual prizes given at this year’s LG ICC Awards. Players eligible for this award must be under 26 years of age at the start of the voting period (11 August 2010) and have played no more than five Test matches and/or 10 ODIs before the start of the voting period. Previous winners of this award include Irfan Pathan (2004), Kevin Pietersen (2005), Ian Bell (2006). Shaun Tait (2007), Ajantha Mendis (2008), Peter Siddle (2009) and Steven Finn (2010).