Why Have Zimbabwe Been Recognised With ICC Spirit Of Cricket Award 2023?

Zimbabwe were declared winners of the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award 2023.

Zimbabwe players after beating West Indies at an ICC Men's World Cup 2023 Qualifier fixture in Harare.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced its annual award of 2023 from January 22 to January 25. While several individual awards were announced, the world cricket governing body awarded Zimbabwe the honour of ICC Spirit of Cricket Award 2023. With a jam-packed cricket calendar, chances are that even the nerdiest of cricket fans might have forgotten the gesture for which Zimbabwe have been given the recognition. The incident happened during the ICC Men's World Cup 2023 Qualifiers.

Zimbabwe ended up beating two-time former ODI World Champions West Indies in one of their qualifying matches. While they did celebrate the momentous occasion with all enthusiasm, their players did realise that it was a heart-shattering moment for the Men from The Caribbean Islands who lost the match and eventually ended up not qualifying for the tournament. In a heartwarming moment, Zimbabwe players were seen consoling West Indies batter Akeal Hosein who was gutted after failing to take his team over the line.

It was this particular gesture, the video of which went viral online in no time and was even shared by ICC on its official social media handle, that helped Zimbabwe bag the  ICC Spirit of Cricket Award 2023.

Take a look at the viral video here:

The @ICC has announced Zimbabwe as the winner of the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award 2023.

We are humbled 🙏 pic.twitter.com/RA9t6Dxu9y

— Zimbabwe Cricket (@ZimCricketv) January 25, 2024

ICC Men's And Women's Cricketer Of The Year 2023 Revealed

Meanwhile while the ICC named Australia skipper Pat Cummins as the winner of the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year 2023, they named England's Nat Sciver-Brunt as the winner of Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award for ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year for the second year in a row. Both had a phenomenal year with the England star scoring 894 runs and taking 9 wickets from 18 games and the Aussie scoring 422 runs and scalping 59 wickets in 24 matches. More than the runs and the wickets taken, it was their impact in their respective team's successes that helped them clinch the awards.