Nepalese Wicketkeeper-batsman Aasif Sheikh has been declared the winner of the 2022 Christopher Martin-Jenkins Spirit of Cricket Award.
The Award is presented every year by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), UK in conjunction with the BBC. The CMJ Spirit of Cricket Award was created in 2013 by MCC and the BBC in memory of former MCC President and BBC Test Match Special commentator Christopher Martin-Jenkins (CMJ), who was passionate about promoting the spirit of the game.
Wicketkeeper-batter Aasif has been recognised with this award, which the Club runs in conjunction with BBC, for his sporting conduct shown in a Men’s T20 International between Nepal and Ireland in February 2022.
The match in Al-Almerat, part of the Oman Quadrangular T20I Series, saw Aasif refuse to run out Ireland’s Andy McBrine, who was accidentally upended by bowler Kamal Airee when attempting a run in the 19th over of the Irish innings.
Kamal, bowling to Mark Adair, fielded off his own bowling and Aasif received the throw cleanly but opted not to remove the bails and run out McBrine, despite having plenty of time to do so until the batter was to make his ground at the striker’s end. The move was supported by Nepal captain Sandeep Lamichhane at the time who immediately shook McBrine’s hand in the aftermath.
Andrew Leonard’s video clip of the incident has been viewed over 1.4 million times on YouTube (below) and was shared widely on social media, amassing millions of views worldwide in the days after the match.
The CMJ Spirit of Cricket Award was created in 2013 by MCC and the BBC in memory of former MCC President and BBC Test Match Special commentator Christopher Martin-Jenkins (“CMJ”), who was passionate about promoting the spirit of the game. For the first time in its history, MCC and BBC invited public nominations for the award in December 2022 and Aasif Sheikh’s conduct for Nepal was adjudged to be the winning entry.
“REGARDLESS OF THE RESULT, WE ALWAYS STRIVE TO PLAY FAIRLY, RESPECT EVERYONE ON AND OFF THE FIELD, AND GIVE IT OUR ALL”
Aasif Sheikh said of the award: “This feels surreal. The CMJ Spirit of Cricket Award is an honour and to receive it, I am simply grateful.
“My parents raised me to be humble and kind in all contexts, my coaches taught me what true team play is and my teammates who keep encouraging me to do my best are equally a part of this success.
“Regardless of the result, we always strive to play fairly, respect everyone on and off the field, and give it our all.
“The moment itself was a spontaneous decision on my/our part not to take the wicket because it would have been unfair to the opponent. We wouldn’t be pleased if our team had got the wicket in that manner, since it would be against our culture and the spirit of sportsmanship.
“They say that cricket is a game of gentlemen and I believe the Spirit of Cricket Award truly signifies that. Thank you MCC.”