The International Cricket Council (ICC) Thursday revealed the names of cricketers that comprise the nominees for the ICC Men’s and Women’s Player of the Month awards.
The nominees for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award feature two stars of Pakistan’s recent One Day International (ODI) success, as well as the Player of the Series in the West Indies’ T20I victory over India, and five nations are represented among the candidates vying for the accolades as voting among the panel and global cricket fans begins.
Babar Azam, Pakistan’s captain, had a strong month with the bat in August as his team continued to get ready for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India. He scored significant runs to help his team win a series against Afghanistan handily and posted a three-figure total in their opening Asia Cup match.
At the other end of the crease, Shadab Khan was also prolific; demonstrating his bowling threat with wicket-taking spells in the same fixtures. Completing the line-up is West Indies’ short format hero Nicholas Pooran, who was named the star man for spearheading his side’s 3-2 T20I series victory against India on home soil.
The shortlist for the ICC Women’s Player of the Month Award features three first-time nominees; a dynamic Malaysian all-rounder, a skilful Irish seamer and a firing Dutch opener. Ainna Hamizah Hashim was a key figure for Malaysia, chipping in with valuable runs and taking vital wickets against the likes of Kuwait and Nepal, before registering a good performance in their opening fixture in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier. Also on the shortlist is Ireland’s Arlene Kelly, who blitzed the Netherlands batting line-up with a host of wickets in their recent T20I series victory. Providing some resistance for the Dutch was opener Iris Zwilling, who posted half-centuries atop the order against Ireland and Jersey during her successful month.
