Smriti Mandhana wins Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award

Dubai, Dec 31 (CRICKETNMORE): Indias left-handed opener Smriti Mandhana has won the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award for the ICC Womens Cricketer of the Year and also been named as the ICC Womens ODI Player

Reacting to the news, a delighted Mandhana said: "The awards are pretty special because as a player when you score runs, you want the team to win, and then when you get acknowledged for your performances through these awards, it motivates you to work harder and do well for your team.

"The century I scored in South Africa (in Kimberley) was quite satisfying and then I had good home series against Australia and England. A lot of people used to say I do not score that much in India, so I had a point to prove to myself. 

"That was something which really made me better as a player. And then, of course, the first four matches of the ICC Women's World T20 were quite memorable," she added.

ICC Chief Executive David Richardson congratulated Mandhana, saying: "Smriti is a worthy winner of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award and I congratulate her on behalf of the ICC. Smriti enthralled fans with some wonderful performances in what was a memorable year for women's cricket, with the ICC Women's World T20 helping build on the momentum of last year's World Cup.

"I would also like to congratulate other winners of the ICC awards, which are a recognition of performances during a calendar year and something I am sure players will cherish for a long time."