De Kock up for six awards

Proteas wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock (above) leads the nominations for the 2016/17 Cricket South Africa (CSA) Awards.

The gala event to honour South Africa’s top performing cricketers over the past year will take place on May 13 in Kyalami.

The judging panel recently finalised the nominations list for the glittering occasion.

De Kock has been nominated in the following categories: SA Cricketer-of-the-Year, Test Cricketer-of-the-Year, and ODI Cricketer-of-the-Year as well as the KFC Award of Excellence. In addition, he has secured his peers’ vote as SA Players’ Player-of-the-Year and could be a contender for SA Fans’ Cricketer-of-the-Year.

“It is my great pleasure and privilege to congratulate all the nominees as we celebrate a very successful year of superior achievement by our Proteas who had won all their Test series in the past 12 months on top of impressive 5-0 clean sweeps against both Australia and Sri Lanka in ODI cricket,” commented CSA Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat.

“And let us not forget to thank all those great and selfless people who work diligently behind the scenes to create opportunities for our leading cricketers to excel.

“Our country continues to produce world-class players. We only need reflect on the superb way in which Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada, Temba Bavuma and Keshav Maharaj have shone over the past year and who continue to grow alongside established greats like AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn.”

The judging panel consists of Aslam Khota (convener), Neil Manthorp, Victor Mpitsang, Robin Peterson, Shafiek Abrahams and Andrew Samson.

Loyal Proteas fans can also have their say in the awards. The SA Fans’ Cricketer-of-the-Year and the RAM Delivery-of-the-Year require supporters to vote for these respective awards. – Own Correspondent