Bangladesh Sports Press Association (BSPA) on Saturday named world famed all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan as the best sportsman of the year 2017.

It chose Shakib, Bangladesh Test and T20 captain, over shooter Arnab Sharar Ladaf and promising booter Zafar Iqbal, reports the UNB.

Bangladesh ODI captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza was adjudged the most popular player of the year to win the ‘Popular Choice Award’ by direct vote of the sports fans defeating shortlisted Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah Riyad and footballer Zafar Iqbal.         

Shakib scored 665 runs and grabbed 29 wickets, including one double century against New Zealand and a 10-wicket haul against Australia, in the Test cricket last year in additional to making a century and a 224-run partnership with Mahmudullah Riyad in the Champions Trophy.

The Kool-BSPA Sports Awards-2017, a regular event of Bangladesh Sports Press Association (BSPA), were ceremonially handed over in the afternoon at a function at the ballroom of Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed was the chief guest and he announced the names of the best sportsmen of the year. Later, he handed over the awards among the outstanding sports personalities in 14 categories for their brilliant performances in the year of 2017. 

Chaired by BSPA President Mustafa Mamun, the function also attended by AIPS Asian Region Vice-president Saba Nayeke and Head of Marketing of Square Toiletries Malik Mohammad Sayeed.

Apart from Shakib and Mashrafe, 12 sports personalities received the best player awards in their respective disciplines of sports.

They are: Shakib Al Hasan, (Cricket), Zafar Iqbal (Football), Enamul Hossain Razib (Chess), Sonam Sultana Soma (Table Tennis), Arnab Sharar Ladif (Shooting), Junaina Ahmed (Swimming), Zahir Raihan (Athletics), Mohammad Salahuddin (Cricket Coach), Mahfuza Akhter Kiron (Football Organiser), Mofiz Uddin (Football personality at grassroots level), Robi (Sponsor), Salam Murshedy and Badal Roy (Special Award-Football).     

The BSPA introduced their sports awards in 1964.