ZC Awards: Utseya Gets Player of the Year

[maehara]

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/sports-770-U ... ports.aspx

Player of the Year: Prosper Utseya
Rookie of the Year: Forster Mutizwa
Bowler of the Year: Tawanda Mupariwa
Batsman of the Year: Hamilton Masakadza
Womens Cricketer of the Year: Thando Mlilo

[Boundary]

There are pics there as well. Wow, Foster Mutizwa is tall

[CrimsonAvenger]

Well, Pricey missing out on the top honours is a bit difficult to digest, but good on Utseya, he has done well with both bat and ball of late, and as captain, he has been a lot more impressive, and this will come as a shot in the arm. All set for a cracker of an ODI series now.

[Boundary]

Oh dear, here we go again. According to the Zim Independent, Price won the best bowler award (which makes sense) but since ZC is silent, we are left to decide who is more reliable. It's worth noting Dave Ellman-Brown was given the Lifetime Achievement award - congrats!!!
http://www.thezimbabweindependent.com/i ... ing-tigers

Decent Zim take on Roaring Tigers
BRENDAN Taylor arrived in Bulawayo yesterday to join the Zimbabwe cricket team for the five-match ODI series against Bangladesh, ending speculation over his role in the matches.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Taylor jetted into Harare from Australia on Wednesday, joining his teammates here yesterday afternoon ahead of the first one-dayer at the Queens Sports Club on Sunday.


Taylor will play for a Zimbabwe “A” side in a warm-up match against Bangladesh at Bulawayo Athletic Club today.

New convener of selectors Alistair Campbell named Taylor in a 15-man squad at a glittering Zimbabwe Cricket Players’ Awards ceremony in the city on Wednesday night.

Taylor’s absence from the training squad had been criticised in some quarters as a dent on team spirit, especially at a time the team is trying to use collective effort against a Bangladesh side touring on the back of a historic Test and ODI series win over a weakened West Indies side.

Notwithstanding, this team is the best side assembled by Zimbabwe in the last four years or so, perhaps further indication that the country is gradually moving towards the best possible Zimbabwe XI again.

Yet it wasn’t without surprises — or controversies if one wants to be dramatic.

The biggest casualty was Forster Mutizwa, the promising wicketkeeper batsman who came to the fore in the 5-0 whitewash of Kenya.

Not that many countries in the world axe one of their best batsman from the immediate previous series, and Mutizwa has every reason to feel hard done by; moreso when you consider that there are three batsmen in the team, Chamu Chibhabha, Charles Coventry and Malcolm Waller, who had an equal if not lesser chance of making the side.

Mutizwa has dropped down to the “A” side, captained by suspended national team wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu, to play in the warm-up match at BAC.

Also going down is pace bowler Chris Mpofu. There was also no place in the national side for promising swing bowler Admire Manyumwa, who was heavily tipped to make his debut in the series.

All-rounder Keith Dabengwa is out for a lengthy period with a knee injury.

Taibu, meanwhile, will also lead the “A” side in their maiden Intercontinental Cup match against Afghanistan in Mutare starting on August 16.

The Stephen Mangongo-coached side returns to four-day cricket after claiming the scalps of ICC associate teams in a six-match winning streak.

Zimbabwe captain and offspinner Prosper Utseya was crowned Player of the Year at the Awards, edging out fellow spinner Ray Price.

Hamilton Masakadza won the Best Batsman accolade, while Price took the Best Bowler award.

Seam bowler Tawanda Mupariwa was given a special award for beating Eddo Brandes’ record to become the fastest Zimbabwean to 50 ODI wickets.

Dave Ellman-Brown, the dedicated former cricket administrator who served the game for over 40 years, was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement award.

Squads
Zimbabwe: Prosper Utseya (captain), Hamilton Masakadza, Mark Vermeulen, Brendan Taylor, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Sean Williams, Elton Chigumbura, Charles Coventry, Vusi Sibanda, Chamu Chibhabha, Malcolm Waller, Ray Price, Tawanda Mupariwa, Graeme Cremer, Ed Rainsford.

Zim “A” for warm-up match: Tatenda Taibu (captain), Brendan Taylor, Chamu Chibhabha, Friday Kasteni, Bothwell Chapungu, Forster Mutizwa, Timycen Maruma, Chris Mpofu, Shingi Masakadza, Admire Manyumwa, Natsai Mushangwe, Tafadzwa Kamungozi (12th man), Trevor Garwe (13th man).
Enock Muchinjo in Bulawayo

[andy24]

price was very stiff not to get an award you would think.

[Detective RDS]

Price deserves an award keeping in mind that his performance in the ODI's. Utseya's captaincy was okay but he surely lacks in wicket taking prospective in the ODI's.

I think, Zimbabwean Independent is the most reliable source. They used to give exclusive news on Zimbabwean cricket and Enock Muchinjo is doing a great work.

From Zimbabwean Independent:

Hamilton Masakadza won the Best Batsman accolade, while Price took the Best Bowler award.

Seam bowler Tawanda Mupariwa was given a special award for beating Eddo Brandes’ record to become the fastest Zimbabwean to 50 ODI wickets.

Mupariwa got a special award. I think, New Zimbabwe website thought that Mupariwa got the best bowler award. But still CONFIRMATION NEEDED...