ICC Awards 2020: Steve Smith is the Test Player of the Decade, Rashid Khan in T20Is

After being named in the respective teams of the decade, Steve Smith and Rashid Khan have won the Players of the Decade Awards in Tests and T20Is respectively.

The World's No 1 Test batsman Steve Smith has the highest average among the Top 50 batsmen in the World during the Awards period of 10 years. Smith scored 7040 runs in the said period at an average of 65.79. 

Smith has scored these runs through 26 hundreds and 28 fifties in the format and has been the most consistent player in the format for the last few years. Given that he was out from the game for a year beacuse of his ban, his numbers and consistency are staggering.

STEVE SMITH is the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Decade 

 7040 Test runs in the #ICCAwards period
65.79 average  Highest in top 50
 26 hundreds, 28 fifties

Unique, relentless and unbelievably consistent pic.twitter.com/UlXvHaFbDz

— ICC (@ICC) December 28, 2020

As far as the shortest format is concerned, it was the Afghan prodigy Rashid Khan, who bagged the T20I player of the decade award. 

Rashid took the most number of wickets in the Awards period, which is 89, more than any other player in the world.

Rashid has bowled at an unbelieable average of 12.62, including three four-wicket hauls and two fifers. Rashid, who made his debut in 2015, has these numbers playing in the international arena for just five years.

 RASHID KHAN is the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Decade 

 Highest wicket-taker in the #ICCAwards period  89
12.62 average 
Three four-wicket hauls, two five-fors

What a story  pic.twitter.com/Y59Y6nCs98

— ICC (@ICC) December 28, 2020

Rashid, who is currently plying his trade for the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia, was delighted to receive this award.

Speaking about the achievement, Rashid said that he was speechless and expressed his gratitude towards the fans for voting for him as the best player in the T20 format.

"For someone from Afghanistan to get this award, it's a special moment for me, for my whole country and for my fans," Rashid said.

Recalling his best memories in the T20 internationals, Rashid said that his 5/3 against Ireland in 2017 where he took four wickets in four balls was a special moment for him.

Further recounting his best memories, Rashid said, "I can't forget the performance I had in the 2016 T20 World Cup where I was the second highest wicket-taker in the whole World Cup. The game against the West Indies, they were the champions as well. We won the game and it was memorable for me as I took the big wicket of Marlon Samuels. That was the best wicket for me in that World Cup."

The 22-year old admitted that he had played for only 5 years in this decade but mentioned that  his first target will be to keep playing cricket till the end of the next decade and keep doing well and performing for his country.

"I am speechless after this award and happy for the fans. For someone from Afghanistan to get this award, it's a special moment for me."

 Rashid Khan's heartwarming reaction to winning the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Decade award #ICCAwards pic.twitter.com/l404BarWId

— ICC (@ICC) December 28, 2020