WISDEN–MCC CRICKET PHOTOGRAPH OF THE YEAR 2016

Saqib Majeed's Kashmiri cricket scene wins first prize

Indian freelance photographer, Saqib Majeed has won the 2016 Wisden–MCC Cricket Photograph of the Year competition. His stunning image of a boys’ cricket game in the Mughal gardens of Srinagar securing first prize.

Saqib Majeed, a photojournalist of eight years, came across the scene on a visit to Nishat Bagh – one of the most famous Mughal gardens. Shooting from a vantage point of 35 feet up, Majeed was able to capture the entire game amongst the autumnal colours of the surrounding chinar trees.

Philip Brown’s image of Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan - the world's leading allrounder - batting against England during the First Test in Chittagong was one of two equal runners-up.

Asanka Brendon Ratnayake was the other runner-up for his photograph of India captain Virat Kohli warming his hands near the flames as he took the field for a T20 International against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Winner

Saqeeb Majeed (Freelance): Kashmiri Muslim boys play cricket under autumn shades in the Nishat Bagh gardens on the outskirts of Srinagar Indian-administered Kashmir, November 10, 2016.

Runner-up

Philip Brown (Freelance): Shakib Al Hasan bats on the second day of the First Test between Bangladesh and England, Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong, Bangladesh, October 21, 2016.

Runner up

Asanka Brendon Ratnayake (Freelance): Virat Kohli warms his hands as he walks past the flames during the second Australia v India T20 International, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia, January 29, 2016.

Shortlisted

Matthew Lewis (Getty Images): West Indies captain Darren Sammy celebrates his team’s victory over England in the final of the ICC World Twenty20, Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India, April 3, 2016

Shortlisted

Paul Miller (Australia Associated Press): Pat Cummins of Sydney Thunder fails to hold a catch offered by Moises Henriques of Sydney Sixers during a BBL Twenty20 match Spotless Stadium, Sydney, Australia, December 20, 2016.

Shortlisted

Ash Allen (Ash Allen Photography): Lendl Simmons of St Kitts and Nevis Patriots loses his bat during a game against Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League. Central Broward Regional Park, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, July 31, 2016.

Shortlisted

A. M. Ahad (Freelance): Children play cricket on a road in Sirajganj, Bangladesh, February 4, 2016.

Shortlisted

Hemant Padalkar (DNA India): Boys playing cricket on the terrace of a building as traffic passes below. Lalbaug, Mumbai, India, May 17, 2016.

Shortlisted

Matthew Childs (Action Images): Jos Buttler and Joe Root dive for a catch in the Fifth England v Sri Lanka One-Day International. SSE SWALEC, Cardiff, Wales, July 2, 2016.

Shortlisted

Md Rafayat Haque Khan (Amateur): On a winter morning in the Brahmanbaria District of central Bangladesh, children play cricket among drying rice. Chittagong, Bangladesh, November 3, 2016.

Shortlisted

Kuntal Roy (Amateur): A young girl in a remote village is challenged by her friends to keep the ball bouncing on her bat. Sundarban, West Bengal, India, December 30, 2016.