In honour of the standout performers from international competition in May, the International Cricket Council (ICC) today unveiled the shortlists of nominees for the ICC Player of the Month awards.
Three well-known players who are competing in the USA and the West Indies for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup are among the finalists for ICC Men’s Player of the Month.
During his team’s Twenty20 international tours of England and Ireland last month, Pakistani bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi amassed a hefty haul of wickets. Gudakesh Motie of the West Indies also received a nomination for Player of the Series following his outstanding performance in their resounding series victory over South Africa. Lorcan Tucker of Ireland completes the roster. As his team gets ready for the T20 World Cup, Tucker has been a wicketkeeper hitter who has scored consistently against Scotland, the Netherlands, and Pakistan.
The nominees for Women’s Player of the Month include an England spin sensation and two stars from the just-ended ICC Women’s T20 World Cup qualifier in the UAE.
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After dominating the run-scoring charts in Abu Dhabi and smashing a brilliant century in the decisive match, Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu is nominated for the second month in a row. Kathryn Bryce, the captain of Scotland, is present with her. Kathryn made history by leading her team to a women’s World Cup event through exceptional individual performances. As her team defeated Pakistan in both shorter formats last month, Sophie Ecclestone of England is the third name in the running for additional wicket-taking achievements.
May’s nominees for ICC Men’s Player of the Month:
Shaheen Shah Afridi (PAK)
Following another impressive run of fast bowling in May, Pakistan’s top pacer gets nominated for the second time in a row. Throughout the month, Afridi played five Twenty20 international matches and claimed ten wickets, including three straight three-wicket hauls. The 24-year-old then went on to hit three for 36 against England in Birmingham after spells of three for 49 and three for 14 against Ireland helped Pakistan overcome a series deficit to win in Dublin. Although the three-time nominee has never taken home the Men’s Player of the Month title, he has a good chance of doing so.
Gudakesh Motie (WI)
The left-arm spinner from the West Indies had great success in the May home series against South Africa, claiming eight wickets at an average of 8.50 over three games as the hosts won 3-0 in Jamaica. In the first match, Motie restricted the tourists’ pursuit with three for 25, and in the second match, he followed that up with another outstanding run of three for 22 to choke the middle order. The last game saw the hosts take the lead again thanks to two more wickets, and the 29-year-old was able to win Player of the Series.
Lorcan Tucker (IRE)
Thanks to his prolific run-scoring performances throughout a hectic month of international competition, the wicketkeeper-batter is nominated for the Men’s Player of the Month award, with the goal of being the first Irish winner since Harry Tector in May 2023. With quickfire scores of 51 and 73 in the second and third games against Pakistan, Tucker led the Irish in scoring. He carried that form into the tri-series matches against Scotland and the Netherlands, hitting 40 and 55 to help Ireland win and gain momentum ahead of their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign.
May’s nominees for ICC Women’s Player of the Month:
Chamari Athapaththu (SL)
Athapaththu has received a lot of attention lately for her personal achievements. In May, she kept up her impressive play when Sri Lanka won the Abu Dhabi qualifier, guaranteeing their spot in the Bangladeshi ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. The captain led the event’s run-scoring rankings with 151 runs and six wickets in May’s matches. When her team’s qualifying was certain, Athapaththu saved her best performance for last. She won Player of the Match against Scotland after hammering 102 runs in 63 balls.
Kathryn Bryce (SCO)
Player of the Tournament Bryce led Scotland to a historic campaign that produced their first-ever women’s World Cup qualification, even though she was injured during the final match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier last month. When her team was chasing 100 to win against Thailand, Bryce entered the game after taking an early wicket and led her team to victory with a dominant 63 in 58 balls. When Bryce’s career-best numbers of four for eight runs were at stake in the semi-final match against Ireland, she pulled off more heroics. She dismissed both of Ireland’s openers in the first over and went on to smash the winning runs in her 35 not out, sparking wild celebrations.
Sophie Ecclestone (ENG)
Ecclestone is ranked #1 in both the ICC Women’s T20I and ODI Bowler Rankings. She excelled in all formats in May, showcasing her abilities. Throughout England’s double series victory against Pakistan, the left-arm spinner posed a threat, claiming five wickets in T20I matches and six in ODIs. A dominant three-wicket haul in the second T20I at Northampton and back-to-back three-wicket hauls in both of the completed ODI matches were among her month’s highlights, which earned her the Player of the Series award.
India
