GANGULY HAS had a series of successful innings since his return to the Indian cricket team during the South African tour of 2006-07. The Prince of Kolkata had put together some outstanding batting performance during 2007 -- his best innings being the 239 against Pakistan at Bangalore in December, 2007.

For his outstanding batting performance during the year, Sourav also received the overall Castrol Asian Batsman of the Year Award. The overall Castrol Asian Bowler of the Year Award was won by Muthiah Muralitharan, who also entered the record books in 2007, becoming the highest wicket taker in Test matches. The Castrol Asian Wicketkeeper/Fielder of the Year Award was won by Kamran Akmal.

The inaugural Castrol Asian Cricket Awards ceremony was hosted by former Pakistani cricketer Rameez Raja and was attended by cricketers from several Asian countries participating in the ongoing Asia Cup. The awards were given away by legendary Asian cricketers like Wasim Akram, Sanath Jayasurya, Wasim Bari, Asif Iqbal and Zahir Abbas.

Besides the overall category, the Castrol awards were also given for the Castrol Asian batsmen and bowler in Test cricket - Kumar Sangakkara and Muthiah Muralitharan; Castrol Asian batsman and bowler in ODIs - Sachin Tendulkar and P Maharoof and Castrol Asian batsman and bowler in T20 - Gautam Gambhir and Umar Gul.

A special award was also given away to Yuvraj Singh for his world record of six sixes in an over in T20 world cup.

Besides the awards mentioned above, the Castrol Pakistan Awards for cricketing excellence for performances by Pakistan cricketers, were also given away.

Shoaib Malik was declared the Castrol Pakistan Cricketer of the Year, whilst the legendary Hanif Mohammed was felicitated with the Castrol Pakistan Lifetime Achievement Award. Ahmad Shezad was declared the Castrol Pakistan Junior Cricketer of the Year.