'What a disgrace': David Warner at centre of 'shameful' controversy
The decision to award David Warner the player of the T20 World Cup has sparked backlash among cricket fans, with many of the belief that the Aussie batsman wasn't as deserving as other players.
Warner scored a brilliant 53 from 38 balls in Monday morning's final as Australia beat New Zealand to win their maiden T20 World Cup title.
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His second-wicket partnership of 92 with Mitch Marsh set up the biggest chase in World Cup final history and ended Australia's 14-year hunt for the T20 title.
The opening batsman finished the tournament with 289 runs at an average of 48.16 to earn the player of the World Cup award.
However some fans were left fuming that the gong didn't go to Pakistan captain Babar Azam.
Babar outscored Warner with 303 runs (despite playing one less game) at an average of 60.60.
Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan (281 runs at 70.25) was also a popular choice among fans, while Aussie leg-spinner Adam Zampa (second-most wickets and best figures) could have easily won the award.
Fans were highly critical of the decision to name Warner the player of the tournament, with some describing it as "shameful" and a "disgrace".
Yet man of the tournament was handed to Warner what a disgrace https://t.co/vTxI8EcQGv
— Realist (@law4all3) November 14, 2021
This is shameful @ICC what was the criteria for selecting player of the tournament was it that someone from Big 3 will be declared player of the tournament?@hashmi_shahid sahab you were a member of this committee what was their criteria?
— Ahsan Chaudhary (@ahsan_ch6) November 14, 2021
@mithunshashank what nonsense. How can he win player of the tournament when he was benched by his glorious IPL team?
— Mouli (@abhinavmouli) November 14, 2021
player of the tournament BABAR Azam Not a Warner 😡😡😡😡
— Mohammad Irfan (@IRFANCH000144) November 14, 2021
Babar should be player of the tournament who was consistent throughout the tournament warner dont deserve 😡😡😡
— Abdullah Umar (@Abdullahumer94) November 14, 2021
What a disgrace. Zampa deserve it more than anyone else. If a batter was to be chosen then #BabarAzam had more runs than Warner. #ICCT20WorldCup https://t.co/lvLuj58JGB
— Bakh! 👻 (@BakhiLuvsShivin) November 14, 2021
Babar Azam should have got it but anyway congratulations
— Noman Murtaza (@noman_murtaza) November 14, 2021
Australia ends 14-year wait for T20 World Cup trophy
Mitch Marsh's crowning moment led Australia to an emphatic eight-wicket win in the final in Dubai to end Australia's 14-year wait for the T20 World Cup title.
In easily his finest moment as an Australian cricketer, Marsh pounded an unbeaten 77 from 50 balls to help chase down the Black Caps' 4-173 with seven balls to spare.
"It's awesome, it really is," captain Aaron Finch said.
"There's been so much talk about this being the one that's been elusive to Australia.
"And to be fair we've probably underperformed in the past, if we're being honest with ourselves.
"We've had some great teams along the way, this team is pretty special.
"The camaraderie, the way everyone really cares for each other and looks after each other, looks out for each other is pretty special so it's awesome."
In Marsh, Australia found the unlikeliest of heroes.
Often the target of harsh criticism, he appeared out of the international frame a year ago and had played just 15 T20I matches between 2011 and 2020.
But he finished the World Cup with an average of 61.66 and a strike-rate above 145, making for the most prolific year of any Australian in history.
And when Australia desperately needed a batter to produce after Black Caps captain Kane Williamson's 85 from 48 balls put the game in the balance, Marsh delivered.
He hit Adam Milne into the crowd at backward square first ball and followed it up with two more boundaries.
"I just wanted to get out there and have a presence," Marsh said.
with AAP
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