ICC reveals nominees for April Player of the Month awards

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the latest lists of contenders hoping to claim the ICC Men’s and Women’s Player of the Month awards following April’s international contests. Three elite performers comprise the shortlist for the ICC Women’s Player of the Month.

Sri Lanka’s influential skipper Chamari Athapaththu is nominated for her outstanding runscoring feats last month, taking in stellar performances across ODIs and T20Is in South Africa and the UAE. Hayley Matthews joins her among the contenders after her eye-catching all-round performances during the West Indies’ strong showing in Pakistan. The lineup is completed by South Africa’s talented batter Laura Wolvaardt, who also inspired her side with the bat in April’s contests.

The ICC Men’s Player of the Month shortlist contains more influential figures who dominated in T20Is last month.

Pakistan’s revered pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi is among the contenders after his wicket-taking endeavours earned Pakistan a series draw with a touring New Zealand side. Captain Gerhard Erasmus was a pivotal figure for Namibia as they recorded a notable series victory in Oman. The final nominee is the UAE’s captain and opening batter Muhammad Waseem, who impressed in his side’s run to ACC Premier Cup success.

ICC Women’s Player of the Month Nominees for April:

Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka)

Last year’s ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year continues her dominance in the 50-over format, reclaiming the top spot in the ICC Women’s ODI Batting rankings after a stellar showing in April. Records tumbled for the Sri Lanka skipper, thanks to a sparkling unbeaten 195 in Potchefstroom against South Africa as the tourists won in a record run chase. 258 ODI runs was complemented by 148 runs in T20Is, which included two half-centuries in South Africa, plus another against Scotland in the ongoing Women’s T20WC Qualifier in Abu Dhabi, where Sri Lanka eventually sealed their qualification thanks to semi-final success on Sunday.

Hayley Matthews (West Indies)

Also a past winner of the ICC Women’s Player of the Month, and current holder of the ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year, Matthews is another top-ranked performer to have grabbed headlines in April. The 26-year-old skipper piled on the runs in her six outings for the West Indies, notching two brilliant ODI centuries followed by back-to-back half-centuries in the T20I contests against Pakistan. Alongside her 451 runs in April, Matthews also flourished with the ball, taking 12 wickets; six in the ODI matches at an average of 14, and six more in the T20Is at 10.50.

Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa)

The South African opener is looking to claim her maiden Player of the Month award in what is her fourth nomination, and is a strong contender after another historic series of displays in April. Wolvaardt started the month with a half-century in the final T20I contest against Sri Lanka before carrying her excellent form into the ODI series. Her innings of 41 in the first match preceded an emphatic 110 not out in the second to claim a vital win, but the 25-year-old saved her best score for the last game, blasting a national record score of 184 in 147 balls only for South Africa to be outdone by the brilliance of Athapaththu.

ICC Men’s Player of the Month Nominees for April:

Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan)

Pakistan pacer Afridi was at his fearsome best at times in his side’s drawn T20I series with New Zealand. The series ended 2-2, with the seamer being the primary catalyst for both of the home side’s victories. The second T20I saw Afridi blitz through the Blackcaps batting lineup, taking three for 13 as Pakistan registered a dominant victory. Then, trailing in the series for the fifth and final contest, Afridi once again wreaked havoc, taking four for 30 to salvage the series draw. Eight wickets in the series at an average of 10.00 saw Afridi walk away with the Player of the Series prize.

Gerhard Erasmus (Namibia)

Namibia captain Erasmus was at the forefront of his side’s success in a competitive series against Oman during April. 145 runs and eight wickets told the tale of his month, where he led the tourists to a notable 3-2 victory in Muscat. Erasmus claimed the Player of the Match prize on two separate occasions; first for a tight spell of three wickets for seven runs followed by a controlled half-century in the second match, and finally for his efforts in the decider. Poised at 2-2, the skipper blasted an eye-catching 64 not out in 29 balls before his two wickets and a run out restricted Oman’s run chase to clinch the series with an emphatic win.

Muhammad Waseem (UAE)

UAE’s opener and captain Waseem enjoyed another prolific month at the crease in April as his side claimed the ACC Premier Cup in Oman. A brisk 65 against Bahrain was followed by scores of 45 and 48 against Oman and Cambodia respectively. Despite failing against Nepal, the 30-year-old regained form at the right time, smashing a fine century in the final against the hosts. The batter struck 269 runs at an average of 44.83 during the month, and seeks to become the first UAE cricketer to win an ICC Men’s Player of the Month award.