International Award for Prasad

MUMBAI, June 14: Indian medium-pacer Venkatesh Prasad upstaged Wasim Akram (Pakistan) with a difference of just five points, to win the Ceat International cricketer of the year Award for 1996-97 and a cash prize of Rs five lakh.

Prasad, who won the Sun Grace-Mafatlal’s Indian cricketer of the year Award a couple of days ago, mustered 92 points to Akram’s 87 points and was declared the winner by the three adjudicators Ian Chappell (Australia), Clive Lloyd (West Indies) and Sunil Gavaskar (India).

Prasad took 55 wickets in 15 Tests, with five five-wickets in an innings haul, and 48 One-Day International wickets from 30 matches.

Following are the top ten: 1. Venkatesh Prasad (India, 92 pts), 2. Wasim Akram (Pak, 87), 3. Anil Kumble (India, 85), 4. Saqlain Mushtaq (Pak, 81), 5. Sachin Tendulkar (India, 79), 6. Allan Donald (SA, 75), 7. Mushtaq Ahmed (Pak, 73), 8. Mohammed Azharuddin (India, 66), 9. Darryl Cullinan (SA, 64), 10. Ijaz Ahmed (Pakistan, 63).