New Delhi: Young India batsman Virat Kohli was today bagged the International Cricketer of the Year award while Pakistan was named as the Best International Cricket Team in the 2011-2012 season at the CEAT cricket awards, here.

Kohli, also the Vice Captain of the side, beat the likes of Australian captain Michael Clarke, former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara and consistent South African opener Hashim Amla to clinch the top honour at a glittering function.

Kohli, however, could not make it to the event and former Pakistan captain and bowling legend Wasim Akram collected the award on his behalf.

“He is a special player. One of the best batsmen and fielder in the world cricket. He should be groomed as the next T20 captain of the Indian team. He is the right choice for the position,” said Akram of Kohli.

Akram also collected the award on behalf of the Pakistan team and said, “It’s an honour for me to collect this award on behalf of the team, They really played some good cricket this season and I congratulate them for emerging the winner.”

Another former Pakistan batting great Zaheer Abbas received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

In the special India-Pakistan award category, legendary Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar lifted the Best Test Batsman trophy while former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq was honoured with the Best ODI Batsman award.

The 1983 India’s World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev was adjudged the Best Test bowler, Akram received the award Best ODI bowler award.

CEAT Audience Choice Awards 2011-2012 went jointly to former Pakistan opener Saeed Anwar and Indian opener Virender Sehwag.

Kapil, while awarding the International Best Cricket Team award to Pakistan said, “They deserve the award as they played good cricket.”

Asked about Indian team’s dismal show against Pakistan in the ongoing series, Kapil said it would be better to not talk on the issue.

“If we don’t talk about it, it would be better for us. I just hope that on Sunday (third ODI at the Feroze Shah Kotla) we see better cricket. The Indian team has the reputation of making a comeback so I just hope they play well.

“I would just like to congratulate the Pakistan time for playing a fantastic cricket. They have a fantastic bowling line-up and there batsmen are also coming good. You deserve to win,” he said.”

The first-ever CEAT young Indian cricketer of the year award was received by India U-19 World Cup winning captain Unmukt Chand, who collected the trophy from Gavaskar.

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG: Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Sports and Youth Affairs Bindo Mathew Lanong has assured that the installation of flood lights and laying the synthetic athletic track at JN Stadium would be completed within the specified deadline.

Expressing satisfaction over the progress of the two projects, Deputy Chief Minister said that the installation of the flood lights is expected to be completed within February while the laying of the synthetic athletic track would be completed by March.

“We have taken all possible steps to see that the two projects are not delayed so that there is no time or cost over run,” Lanong told reporters after completing the inspection of the two projects here on Friday.

Lanong also informed that the engineers monitoring the two projects have expressed confidence on the completion of the work on time.

The NEC has funded Rs 4.99 crore for the floodlights whereas Rs 5 crore has come from central sponsored Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme (USIS) under the Union Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs for laying the athletic track.

Reacting to a query over the possible power failure during matches to be played under flood lights in future, the Deputy Chief Minister said that funds have already been kept aside for installing power generating system which would act as a backup.

“These major projects would be a huge bonus for the sports lovers of the State,” Lanong added.

Kolkata: An insipid India slumped to yet another series defeat with a pathetic display as arch-rivals Pakistan spanked the hosts by 85 runs in the second one-dayer to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series here on Thursday.

Riding on Nasir Jamshed’s second consecutive century, the visitors posted 250 all out and then shot out the Indians for a paltry 165 to record a convincing victory with two overs to spare.

It was yet another woeful display by the famed Indian batting line-up, which has been struggling for some time now and has been largely responsible for the team’s forgettable results in recent times.

The huge defeat to the arch-rivals will now raise questions on the future of some of India’s under-performing batting stars, who have let the team down more often than not.

Jamshed (106) notched up his third ODI century, all three coming against India, but Pakistan suffered a dramatic collapse after being at a healthy 141 for no loss at the mid-way stage. Mohammed Hafeez was the other contributor with a rollicking 76 off 74 balls.

The floodgates opened after the dismissal of Hafeez as none of the other batsmen could hang around long enough on a slow Eden Garden track, which made stroke-making difficult after the ball became older.

The Indians needed a good start from their struggling openers – Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag – but it did not materialise, putting pressure on the jittery middle-order.

Sehwag (31), Gambhir (11), Virat Kohli (6), Yuvraj Singh (9) and Suresh Raina (18) perished in quick succession to give the visitors the upper hand in what eventually turned out to be a lop-sided contest.

Skipper MS Dhoni, who scored a heroic unbeaten 113 in the first ODI in Chennai, again provided some resistance with a cautious and unbeaten 54 but wickets kept tumbling at the other end.

The series defeat against Pakistan marks another low for the struggling team, which suffered an embarrassing Test series debacle against England at home and levelled a T20 series 1-1.

Thursday’s defeat has also rendered the third and final ODI in Delhi on Sunday inconsequential.

India lost to Pakistan last time around at home in 2004-05 when they lost the six-match series 2-4. India have lost all the four matches they have played against Pakistan at Eden Gardens.

The under-fire opening duo of Gambhir and Sehwag had a sedate start. Sehwag scored a few boundaries but just when the partnership looked like building, Junaid provided the breakthrough in the form of Gambhir.

The left-hander chased a widish delivery and the ball hit his stump after taking an inside edge of his blade.

It was a familiar story from there on as the failing middle-order found the going tough against some disciplined fast bowling of Umar Gul and Junaid.

India were reduced to 70 for four as promising Kohli continued and Yuvraj could not get to double digits, both being dismissed caught behind.

Raina also started his walk back when he was stumped off Hafeez.

Promoted ahead of Jadeja, Ashwin (3) was the victim of another stumping, this time by Shoaib Malik.

Jadeja (13) could not give the support Dhoni needed in the middle when he was caught at mid-on as it was just a matter of time for the visitors to seal the series.

Earlier, under overcast conditions, Jamshed scored a fluent 106 from 126 balls and along with Hafeez put up a handsome 141-run opening partnership.

But India made a dramatic comeback riding on left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja’s 3-41 as Pakistan were bowled out in 48.3 overs.

After giving the first breakthrough, Jadeja took two wickets – Jamshed and Kamran Akmal – in one over to trigger a collapse and Ishant Sharma (3-34) polished off the tail.

From 141 for no loss, Pakistan lost 10 wickets in 25 overs.

The 23-year-old Jamshed continued from where he had left in Chennai, while Hafeez made up for his duck with a sensible batting display.

Jamshed straight-drove one uppishly in the mid-off boundary region to bring up his hundred.

But he could not carry his innings through as he became Jadeja’s second victim. Jadeja claimed Kamran Akmal (0), his third, in the same over to trigger Pakistani middle order collapse. (PTI)

Kolkata: Captain MS Dhoni admitted that India will have to improve as a team after the hosts slumped to yet another series loss at home here on Thursday.

Even though Dhoni praised his bowlers for restricting Pakistan to 250, he came down hard on India’s famed batting line-up for failing once again.

“I think the bowlers brought us back in the game. I think when we went in to bat, we lost too many wickets. In the last 30 overs we needed 180, and the key was to have wickets in hand but we never were in a position,” Dhoni said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

“Virat (Kohli) has scored runs for us, but one of the top three needs to be with the middle-order, that will make it easy. We have got the experience in the batting, it is about them coming back to form.

“Overall we have to improve as a team. We are a good fielding side, but we have to bowl well and develop,” he added.

Pakistan rode on Nasir Jamshed’s (106) second consecutive century in the series to post 250 all out and then shot out India for a paltry 165 to record a convincing victory.

Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq praised Jamshed and Mohammad Hafeez (76) for putting up a match-winning 141-run opening stand, which was key to the visitor’s win today.

“I think the team really played well, specially the way openers started, they gave us a really, really good start and then the bowlers did the job,” he said.

“The way the wicket was playing, I think 300 was on the cards, especially the way the openers were batting.”

Misbah also lauded his bowlers for dismissing India for a meagre 165.

“I think the bowlers are really doing a great job, especially Junaid (Khan) who is moving it both ways and asking questions of the batsmen. (Mohammad) Irfan has his height and (Umar) Gul also bowled well today. (Saeed) Ajmal and (Mohammad) Hafeez always deliver for us,” the visiting captain said.

Man-of-the-Match Jamshed said playing at the historic Eden Gardens was always a dream for him.

“I just enjoy my batting. The last time I missed the man-of-the-match but lucky this time they gave it to me.

“I just kept a cool mind, and Hafeez played a great innings. Pitch was little bit slow, and I just played according to the ball. It was dream to play in the ground,” he said.

The third and final ODI will be played at the Feroze Shah Kotla ground in New Delhi on Sunday. (PTI)