Sam Curran was a baffling omission from the ICC Team of the Tournament at the T20 World Cup despite his superb bowling display against Pakistan setting up victory for England in the final.
After skipper Jos Buttler opted to field first at the MCG, it was Curran who bowled Mohammad Rizwan in the fifth over to notch the vital breakthrough. He then went on to take the key wicket of Pakistan top scorer Shan Masood [38], and also removed Mohammad Nawaz en route to figures of 3 for 12 from four overs, and was later named the Player of the Final.
His haul represented the best ever from a fast bowler in a T20 World Cup final, and also capped a stellar tournament from the all-rounder. Displaying a full array of variations with the ball, he took 13 wickets at an average of 11.38, enough to also earn him the ICC's Player of the Tournament award.
But despite this, the 24-year-old has missed out on being named in the overall team of the tournament by the ICC. Three other England players made it in Buttler, Alex Hales, and Mark Wood, but the all-rounder spots went to Shadab Khan of Pakistan and Sikandar Raza of Zimbabwe.
India's Virat Kohli and Suruyakumar were named at No 3 and 4 respectively, with New Zealand's Glenn Phillips behind them. After Khan and Raza, South African bowler Anrich Nortje was also named alongside Wood, Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan) and Arshdeep Singa ( India ).
But it was the absence of Curran, who worked as a commentator at the 2021 tournament after being ruled out with a back injury, that was proved the major talking point. And cricket fans were quick to question the strange selection.
"So the Man of The Tournament and also the Man of the Match in the finals doesn't find a place in ICC Team of The Tournament. Irony just died," wrote @priy_priyanshu. "Sam Curran got Player of the Tournament but not in the Team of the Tournament? Make it make sense…" added @_SamPimm.
@WillDanielsRUFC argued: "How is Sam Curran not in the World Cup T20 team of the tournament? Joke of a bowling display in this final. Executed the plan brilliantly as a team. "
Curran, who became the first England player to take the tournament honour since Kevin Pietersen in 2010, is unlikely to be perturbed though. He'll now remain with the white ball squad for their three-match 50 over series in Australia this month.
