The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the nominees for the Men’s and Women’s Player of the Month awards for April, following a series of impressive international performances. The ICC Women’s Player of the Month shortlist features three exceptional cricketers who stood out during April’s contests.
Women’s Player of the Month nominees- Chamari Athapaththu, Hayley Matthews Laura Wolvaardt
Leading the nominees is Sri Lanka’s captain Chamari Athapaththu, recognized for her remarkable run-scoring exploits. She delivered outstanding performances in both ODIs and T20Is during tours in South Africa and the UAE. Athapaththu’s achievements in April included a stunning unbeaten 195 during a record-setting run chase against South Africa in Potchefstroom. Her month-long total of 258 runs in ODIs and 148 in T20Is earned her a spot on the shortlist.
West Indies’ Hayley Matthews is another contender, showcasing her all-round skills during her team’s successful tour in Pakistan. Matthews scored two ODI centuries and followed up with consecutive half-centuries in the T20Is. Her 451 runs, combined with 12 wickets across both formats, highlighted her significant impact on the games.
Rounding out the women’s shortlist is South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt. The South African opener demonstrated her prowess with the bat, starting the month with a half-century in a T20I against Sri Lanka. She then hit 110 not out in an ODI and later set a national record with 184 in another ODI. This consistent display of excellence places her firmly in the running for the award.
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Men’s Player of the Month nominees- Shaheen Shah Afridi, Gerhard Erasmus, Muhammad Waseem
On the men’s side, the nominees also showcased significant achievements during T20I matches last month. Pakistan’s pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi earned his spot on the shortlist for his exceptional performances in the series against New Zealand. Afridi’s bowling prowess was crucial to Pakistan’s victories, taking three wickets for 13 runs in the second T20I and four wickets for 30 runs in the final game, resulting in a series draw.
Namibia’s captain Gerhard Erasmus also impressed, leading his team to a series win in Oman. Erasmus’ contributions included 145 runs and eight wickets, helping Namibia secure a 3-2 victory. His standout performances in key moments, including three wickets for seven runs in one game and a 64-run blast in another, were instrumental in Namibia’s success.
Completing the men’s shortlist is UAE’s Muhammad Waseem, who captained his team to victory in the ACC Premier Cup. Waseem scored consistently throughout the tournament, with a brisk 65 against Bahrain and a crucial century in the final against Nepal. His 269 runs at an average of 44.83 secured his nomination for the Player of the Month award.
