Cricket has become a global sport now, with players from different parts of the world playing this sport now. With the growth of T20 leagues, more and more players are earning contracts and making a living by playing this sport. Even in European countries, the growth of cricket has been significant over the last few years.
One of the main things about any team sport is the award and prize given to the top performers. It is the aim of every player to win it because they either receive a handsome amount of money or a prized possession. However, sometimes, the organizers have gifted some unthinkable things as awards. Here’s a list of six weirdest awards and prizes.
1. Green Belt in International League T20
Robin Uthappa with the green belt for the highest run-getter in ILT20. pic.twitter.com/lselxTqp9A
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 16, 2023
There is Orange Cap in IPL, which is given to the player who scores the highest number of runs. In UAE’s new International League T20, the player who scores the most runs receives a Green Belt as if he is a WWE Superstar.
2. Blender
Pleased we won my first match 4 Abahani today. Have 2 say I have never been given a blender 4 getting MOM before! pic.twitter.com/BkiycrpJgu
— Luke Wright (@lukewright204) October 31, 2013
Luke Wright received a blender as Man of the Match award when he participated in a tournament in Bangladesh. The England cricketer’s post had gone viral then.
3. Mini Truck
Many Indian fans would remember the video of MS Dhoni riding a mini truck with the star Indian cricketers sitting in it. The truck was a gift to Jasprit Bumrah who won the Man of the Series in a series against Sri Lanka in 2017.
4. 5 liters of petrol
Mom in bhopal cricket tournament gets awarded 5 litres petrol 😂
— Rohitian (@Loyalfanofrohit) March 2, 2021
Truly most expensive award Nowdays 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/GIwaY8st2T
In a local tournament played two years ago, a player of Bhopal team received 5 litres petrol as Man of the Match award. As per fans on social media, the Man of the Series received a gas cylinder.
5. Lawnmower
When Makhaya Ntini won a lawnmower for his MOM performance against Ireland at Clontarf in 2003. https://t.co/Ir71rwB4c1 pic.twitter.com/tQZljXg85T
— Barry Chambers (@irishcricket1) February 10, 2021
Back in 2003, South African fast bowler Makhaya Ntini received a lawnmower as an award for his Man of the Match performance. It was against Ireland at Clontarf.
6. Sunshine Snack
Kevon Cooper won the Sunshine snack Powershot at the #CPLfinal #CPL17 pic.twitter.com/vaIsm0wH0h
— CPL T20 (@CPL) September 14, 2017
Caribbean Premier League organizers introduced a new award in 2017 for the power shot of the match. The winner took Sunshine Snacks package home.