Aasif Sheikh wins ICC Spirit of Cricket Award

The International Cricket Council announced the winners of its prestigious annual awards this week and Nepal wicketkeeper Aasif Sheikh got into the history books after he bagged the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award on Thursday, January 26.

Aasif Sheikh received the Spirit of Cricket Award for his tremendous sportsmanship during his side's encounter against Ireland in February 2022. His decision to not run out Andy McBrine after he was accidentally tripped by the bowler received widespread praise during the Quadrangular series in Oman.

ICC laid a strong foundation for the next generation of cricketers by introducing the spirit of the game in the preamble to the laws of cricket. It states that the game should not only be played within the laws but also within the spirit of the game to ensure the integrity of the sport.

A heart-warming #SpiritOfCricket moment from Nepal's wicket-keeper Aasif Sheikh 👏

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All you need to know 👉 https://t.co/XQgeYSj7Z7 pic.twitter.com/1JoX7qRube

— ICC (@ICC) February 16, 2022

"Cricket is a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact that it should be played not only within its laws but also within the spirit of the game. Any action which is seen to abuse this spirit causes injury to the game itself."

The Preamble states that participants should always show respect for, "Your opponents, Your own captain, and team, The role of the umpires, The game's traditional values," in order to safeguard the spirit of the game.

The incident involving Aasif Sheikh took place on February 14 during Nepal's clash against Ireland in the sixth match of the Quadrangular series in Oman. Nepal's Kamal Singh Airee was handed the ball for the 19th over as the Irish batters were looking to post a competitive score on the board. On the third ball of the over, Mark Adair went for a big slog, mistiming the ball towards the bowler.

Kamal Singh rushed to collect the ball and accidentally tripped the non-striker, Andy McBrine, who was trying to complete a quick single. But the Irishman could not recover in time and was well short when the bowler fired a quick throw towards the wicketkeeper Aasif Sheikh, who collected it cleanly. But he refrained from running out the batter since he was tripped over by the bowler.

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