Murali and Mahela among the top contenders

Chris Dhambarage

CRICKET: Some of the top stars in world cricket will be on hand to present this year's prestigious International Cricket Council Awards which will take place at the Taj Lands End Hotel in Mumbai here on Friday night.

Among the top stars includes former Pakistan great Imran Khan, Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar and Tony Greig, with the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the Player of the Year being presented by local Indian hero Sachin Tendulkar.

Sri Lanka's champion off spinner Muttiahtharan is one of the top contenders for this award along with two Australians - skipper Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey and Mohammed Yousuf of Pakistan.

Imran Khan the former Pakistan captain and all-rounder who guided his country to an ICC Cricket World Cup victory in 1992 will present the inaugural Captain of the Year award and will also offer his vision of cricket in a speech beforehand.

Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardena is one of the top contenders for this award along with India's Rahul Drawid, Michael Vaughn (England) and Ricky Ponting (Australia).

Meanwhile Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar will announce the International Cricket Council Test and One Day International teams of the Year and will present those players with their unique hand-crafted caps on the night.

Gavaskar, who is one of only five players to have scored more than 10,000 Test runs, was chairman of the Selection Panel that picked the two teams of the year. As the women's game is also under the supervision of International Cricket Council, the ICC Awards includes a category for the Women's Player of the Year. This award will be presented by former Australian wicket keeper and now the ICC's Global Cricket Academy Director of Coaching Rodney Marsh.

Another significant feature of this year's ICC Awards is that they have recognised the integral part umpires play in the smooth running of any cricket match. The outstanding decision-making and communication skills of the top umpires are part of what makes a good game so enjoyable. The ICC's chief match referee Ranjan Madugalle will present the Umpire of the Year Award.

Tony Greig and Greg Chappell will be on hand to present the One Day Player of the Year and Test Player of the Year awards while Indian star batsman Sachin Tendulkar will give out the top award of the night, the Player of the Year, who will receive the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy. Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardena is among the top list to receive the one day international player of the year award along with Michael Hussey (Australia), Ricky Ponting (Australia) and Yuvraj Singh (India).

The ICC Awards 2006 is a celebration of cricket and an acknowledgment of the wonderful achievements of the very best players in the world. The event, which is presented by Hyundai in association with the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations is now in its third year and is a chance to highlight the best in cricket over the 12 months between August 1, 2005 and August 8, 2006.

The other members of the ICC Selection Panel, which nominated the long list of players for each men's award, are Allan Donald (South Africa), Ian Healy (Australia), Arjuna Ranatunga (Sri Lanka) and Waqar Younis (Pakistan). The Women's Player of the Year has been chosen by a panel of 12 former players and influential figures in the women's game including members of the media.

The nominees for the International Cricket Council Awards:

Player of the year: Michael Hussey (Australia), Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka), Ricky Ponting (Australia), Mohammed Yousuf (Pakistan).

Test Player of the year: Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka), Ricky Ponting (Australia), Shane Warne (Australia), Mohammed Yousuf (Pakistan).

One day International Player of the year: Michael Hussey (Australia), Mahela Jayawardena (Sri Lanka), Ricky Ponting (Australia), Yuvraj Singh (India).

Women's Player of the year: Karen Rolton (Australia), Anjum Chopra (India), Katherine Brunt (England).

Emerging Player of the year: Alistair Cook (England), Mohammed Asif (Pakistan), Ian Bell (England), Monty Panesar (England).

Captain of the year: Rahul Dravid (India), Michael Vaughn (England), Ricky Ponting (Australia), Mahela Jayawardena (Sri Lanka).

Spirit of Cricket Award: India, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka.

Umpire of the year: Aleem Dar, Rudi Koertzen, Simon Taufel. (Mumbai, Thursday).