The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday announced the rest of the 13 members to complete the 50-member voting academy that will pick the winners for the first ICC Awards, to be presented September 7 in London.
"These members join the 12 individuals that were announced last month, bringing the 'legends and media' group total to 25 people, and completing the 50-member academy," said a statement from the ICC.
The new 13 members are: Legends: Athar Ali Khan (Bangladesh), Richie Benaud (Australia), Ian Botham (England), Jeremy Coney (New Zealand), Aravinda de Silva (Sri Lanka), Allan Donald (South Africa), Javed Miandad (Pakistan), Arjuna Ranatunga (Sri Lanka), Viv Richards (West Indies), Steve Waugh (Australia) and Waqar Younis (Pakistan); Media: Omar Kureshi (sports writer and columnist, Pakistan) and Christopher Martin-Jenkins (cricket writer, England).
The academy, which includes a minimum of two representatives from each of the ICC's full member countries, comprises four groups: the captain of each country (10); all members of the Emirates elite panel of referees (current officials who have officiated in a series in the voting period) (7); all members of the Emirates elite panel of umpires (8); and an invited group of 'legends and media' (25).
ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said the academy was now trusted with the challenging task of voting for the best players of the past 12 months.
{{/usCountry}}ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said the academy was now trusted with the challenging task of voting for the best players of the past 12 months.
{{/usCountry}}The academy will cast votes for the four individual player awards: Player of the Year; Test Player of the Year; One-day International Player of the Year; Emerging Player of the Year and Umpire of the Year.
Team awards: Test Team of the Year; One-day International Team of the Year; and Spirit of Cricket Award.