Sri Lanka’s ace spinner Muthiah Muralitharan bagged the Ceat International Cricketer of the Year award for 2006-07 while India’s veteran leg spinner Anil Kumble and Australian skipper Ricky Ponting bagged the Lifetime Achievement awards at a grand function here on Thursday.
Off-spinner Muralitharan, who also bagged the International Bowler of the Year award, received in all $12,500 while his captain Mahela Jayawardene pocketed $5,000 after being named the International Batsman of the Year.
Kumble and Ponting received $5,000 dollar each for the newly introduced section to celebrate the Diamond Jublilee of the Test contest between the two countries which began in 1947-48.
The Australian team that won the World Cup for the third successive time in the West Indies in April clinc-hed the Team of the Year award, carrying a cash prize of $10,000. It’s the eighth time, and sixth year running, they are winning this honour.
The much-feted and rewarded World T20-winning Indian squad led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni were given Rs 15 lakh each by the promoters of the award, RPG Group.
The Ceat under-19 and T20 ratings were also introduced with a vision to catch and promote young talent, from across the country, especially the talent from small towns, it was stated during the function.
