Following an action-packed month of cricket in September, the International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced the most recent crop of international players shortlisted for the ICC Men’s and Women’s Player of the Month awards.
One of England’s most effective short-format bats is included on the three-person ICC Men’s Player of the Month shortlist, along with two Indians who were crucial to their Asia Cup victory last month.
Late in September, Mohammed Siraj returned to the top of the ICC Men’s ODI bowlers rankings, and his outstanding bowling performance served as the main driving force for India’s victory in the final. Shubman Gill, who joined him on the shortlist after continuing his run-scoring heroics from the Asia Cup into the ensuing ODI series against Australia, is also seeking to earn his second Player of the Month award. Dawid Malan of England completes the lineup; he was nominated for the first time as a result of his outstanding performance in the series against New Zealand.
The young South African team that defeated Pakistan in a T20I match and Sri Lanka’s powerful captain, who guided her team to a historic T20I series triumph in England are among the players on the shortlist for the ICC Women’s Player of the Month Award.
After contributing to Sri Lanka’s first-ever series victory on English soil with her batting and bowling, Chamari Athapaththu receives her second nomination for Player of the Month. Her fellow all-rounder Nadine de Klerk, whose runs and wickets were crucial to South Africa’s victories in ODIs against Pakistan and New Zealand, and her countrywoman Laura Wolvaardt, who once more displayed flashes of her batting prowess with runs in both T20I and ODI formats against the same opposition, join her among the contenders for September’s title.
The winners, who will be announced the following week, will now be chosen by an independent ICC Voting Academy* and fans from all over the world. Up to Thursday, fans who have registered at icc-cricket.com/awards can vote for their favorite athletes.
Candidates for the September ICC Men’s Player of the Month award:
Shubman Gill(IND)
The Indian batsman has had an incredibly successful 2023 so far, and after runs started to pour in again in September, he may be in course to earn his second Player of the Month award. In his eight ODIs over the month, the 24-year-old scored 480 runs at an average of 80, with some standout performances including a beautiful century against Bangladesh in Colombo and 74 and 104 in back-to-back games against Australia.
Dawid Malan(ENG)
The England hitter, who recently defeated New Zealand at home and won Player of the Series, entered the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in outstanding ODI form. With each game in the series, his scores increased. After reaching fifty in the second game, he scored 96 at the Oval, narrowly missing three figures, before surpassing the mark in the last game across London at Lord’s. In September, he ran 277 times in ODIs, averaging 92.33.
Mohammed Siraj (IND)
The pacer’s brilliant effort to destroy Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final in Colombo sent him back to the top of the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI bowling rankings in September. Siraj bowled the reigning champions out for 50 runs while taking six wickets for 21, including a four-wicket over. Siraj grabbed 11 wickets in all across six ODIs, but his month will be remembered for the remarkable way in which he tore into the team.
Candidates for September’s ICC Women’s Player of the Month award:
During the T20I series against England in September, Sri Lanka’s illustrious captain was at the top of her game. After narrowly losing the first game due to weather, Athapaththu won their first game against the host team in any format with back-to-back Player of the Match performances. In the second and third matches, she helped keep England’s totals low with her signature explosive batting and economical bowling. Following an outstanding 55 runs in 31 balls in the second game, the deciding match saw a match-winning 44 runs in 28 balls and three precious England wickets.
Nadine de Klerk(SA)
After contributing significant runs and wickets to ODI victories over Pakistan and New Zealand last month, the South African all-rounder is thrilled to receive her maiden nomination for Player of the Month. De Klerk contributed with runs throughout the month of September, only getting out once while scoring 171 runs, including two half-centuries in a row. In her five ODI appearances, the Player of the Series against Pakistan made an excellent impression with the ball, taking 13 wickets at an exceptional average of 12.76.
Laura Wolvaardt(SA)
Wolvaardt was selected Player of the Series despite Pakistan winning the T20I series 3-0 despite scoring 157 runs in her three matches. After a lackluster ODI series against Pakistan, the South African found her form against New Zealand. She hit a stylish 50 before her team won the series with an unbeaten 124, earning Wolvaardt yet another Player of the Series award.
India
