Twitter reacts after Shaheen ‘Test Player of the Year’ snub

Pakistani Twitter has strongly reacted after Pakistani pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has not been named among the nominees for ICC ‘Test Player of the Year’.

India’s spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, England skipper Joe Root, New Zealand’s all-rounder Kylie Jamieson and Sri Lanka’s Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne have been nominated for the award on Tuesday.

Shaheen was the second highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, during 2021, with 47 wickets in 9 matches at an average of 17.06.

Interestingly, the ICC decided to include New Zealand’s pacer Kyle Jamieson, who had bagged fewer wickets than Shaheen, in the list. The right-armer bagged 27 wickets in five matches.

Explaining their decision, the ICC said, in a statement, that “in New Zealand’s finest hour, as they celebrated their ICC World Test Championship victory, Jamieson was the player who made the difference”.

“Away from the seam-friendly pitches of New Zealand and England, Jamieson also impressed on the flat decks in India, getting the ball to shape beautifully,” the statement added.

However, Twitter users were not happy with ICC’s decision to pick Jamieson over Shaheen.

I think Pathetic selection from ICC for Men's Test Player for year 2021.🙌

Shaheen Afridi Should Be In The List In Place Of Kyle Jamieson. Shaheen Took 47 Wickets In 9 Matches.
⚡ Waseem CH 🏏#ICCAwards pic.twitter.com/k9KtmxijGV

— 𝑴 . 𝑾𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒎 |•💜𝗞𝗞💜•| $MOJO (@Itx_WasiCH_56) December 28, 2021

Jamieson is nominated for picking 27 wickets at 17.51 but Shaheen robbed after picking 47 wickets at 17.06. https://t.co/BQ1jLhn3z2

— S A A D 🇵🇰 (@SaadSays22) December 28, 2021

As Always, ICC being Biased. After A Wonderful Year By Hassan Ali And Shaheen Afridi In Tests, They Aren't Nominated For ICC Test Player Of The Year.

— Maaz Ahmed🇵🇰 (PZ) (@Maaz_hun_yaar) December 28, 2021

4 nominees for ICC Test player of the year – Joe Root, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kyle Jamieson and Dimuth Karunaratne. Surprised that Shaheen Shah Afridi who took 47 wickets (2nd highest) at an average of 17.06 isn't included #Cricket

— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) December 28, 2021

Joe Root, Ravi Ashwin, Kyle Jamieson and Dimuth Karunaratne Nominated for ICC Men's Test Player Of the Year 2021.

Surprised Shaheen Shah Afridi isn't there in Nominees. Performed in Every Series. Disappointed But Not Surprised. Totally Expected from ICC

— 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗭𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗮𝗿 🇵🇰🇵🇸 (@iam_JZK) December 28, 2021

Four nominees for ICC Test player award 2021

1 Joe Root
2 Ravi Ashwin
3 Jamieson
4 Karunaratne

Shaheen Shah has been phenomenal this year, in 9 matches managed to take 47 wicket Also he's 2nd most wicket taker this year after Ashwin and not even nominees, SHOCKING #Cricket

— Arsalan Siddique (@Arsalansidique1) December 28, 2021

Some of the netizens were even questioning Hassan Ali’s exclusion from the nominees as the star Pakistani speedster has grabbed 41 wickets in 8 matches at an average of 16.07 which include five, 5 wicket-hauls and one 10 wicket-hauls.

Shaheen played 9 matches and took 47 wickets at an average of 17.06 which includes THREE,5 wicket-hauls and ONE 10 wicket-haul in Tests 2021.
Hasan Ali played 8 matches & took 41 wickets at an average of 16.07 which include FIVE,5 wicket-hauls and ONE 10 wicket-hauls.#ICCAwards pic.twitter.com/TXHUkec0m7

— Omaish Malik 🇵🇰 (@omaishmalik) December 28, 2021