Offspinner Anisa Mohammed was named Player of the Year by the T&T Women's Cricket Board of Control for the second year in a row during its annual award ceremony at the VIP Lounge of the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo yesterday morning. The 21-year-old national and regional vice-captain said that the announcement came as a surprise since there were other standout players on the team. "I wasn't really expecting this award," she said after the ceremony. "I knew I had performed but I knew that others had performed as well. "My batting didn't really come through this year but I thought I bowled well. I will be going for the hat-trick next year so I can take this trophy once and for all."
Mohammed, who joined the T&T team at age 14 and the West Indies team a year later, took 38 wickets in 2009 at an average of 16.03. She guided T&T to the Regional Women's 50 overs Cricket Competition title in Guyana in August with a haul of 11 wickets, the most in the tournament. Her figures of three for 26 in the final helped T&T to a four-wicket win over Jamaica. She had a career best of five for ten during a T20 against South Africa in Cape Town in October which helped West Indies secure a 2-0 lead in the three-match series. She also played an important role in the regional side's ODI and T20 series victories over World Cup champions England in the Caribbean the following month. Among the Board's Five Players of the Year were Mohammed, her twin sister Alisa, Stacy-Ann King, Britney Cooper and Amanda Samaroo, who was also named Youth Player of the Year.
Janelle Samuel (Most Disciplined Player), Shenice Lalla (Most Promising Player) and Rackeal Bissoon (Most Improved Player) also collected trophies.
President of the T&T Women's Cricket Board of Control Gayle Daniel-Worrell praised the players for their accomplishments and gave credit to the people behind the scenes for helping to develop the sport. "While we celebrate and award individual performances, we know that these were only possible because of the many years of support and training afforded the players through the untiring efforts of parents, coaches, trainers, administrators, government and others who toiled for the achievement of the sport," she said. "While we may not bestow awards on these countless others, our appreciation for them is no less great."
AWARDS
Player of the Year: Anisa Mohammed
Five Players of the Year:
Anisa Mohammed (38 wickets, Ave: 16.03),
Alisa Mohammed (363 runs, Ave: 24.0, 23 wickets Ave: 14.48),
Stacy-Ann King (397 runs, Ave: 49.63, 23 wickets, Ave: 16.04),
Britney Cooper (609 runs; Ave: 35.82) and
Amanda Samaroo (502 runs, Ave: 22.81, 33 wickets, Ave: 11.18).
Youth Player of the Year: Amanda Samaroo
Most Disciplined Player: Janelle Samuel
Most Promising Player: Shenice Lalla
Most Improved Player: Rackeal Bissoon
West Indies team members: Marissa Aguilliera, Kirbyina Alexander, Amanda Samaroo, Britney Cooper, Anisa Mohammed and Stacy Ann King.
June Walters Award for club administration: Patrick Rampersard
