ICC announces 'Player of the Month' nominations for April 2024

In recent news, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the nominations for the men’s 'Player of the Match' award for April 2024. The list includes the players from Namibia, UAE, and Pakistan who were the star performers for their respective teams last month.

The first name in the list includes the name of the Namibia skipper Gerhard Erasmus, who came up with two stunning performances, in which he won the 'Player of the Match' award two times. In the second game of the series, he scored 58 off 56 balls followed by an amazing spell of 3 wickets just at the cost of 7 runs.

Later in the fifth match of the series, he played a blistering knock of 64 runs off just 29 balls followed by picking two crucial wickets for Namibia. His performances helped Namibia to clinch the series with a 62-run win in the last match of the series.

Another name in the list of ‘Player of the Month award nominees is UAE’s star batter Muhammad Waseem who played the brilliant knocks of 65, 45 and 48 runs, respectively in the three consecutive matches. However, he didn’t have an expected start of the month as he was dismissed on a ‘golden duck’.

Star Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi makes it to the nominations

Besides UAE’s Waseem and Namibia skipper Gerhard Erasmus, the star Pakistan pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi has also made it to the 3 nominees for the ICC Men’s ‘Player of the Month award for April 2024. After the ‘washed out’ first T20I, Shaheen Afridi started with a performance of 3/13 in the second T20I of the five-match series against New Zealand last month.

Later in the fifth match, he also produced a match-defining and decisive performance, scalping 4/30 and winning his second ‘Player of the Match award in the series. He also won the ‘Player of the Series award for his standout bowling throughout the series.

Here's a look at 'Player of the Month award nominations in the Women's category

The nomination list for the 'Player of the Month award in the women's category includes Sri Lannka's Chamari Athapaththu, alongside Hayley Matthews, and Laura Wolvaardt.

Athapaththu has produced some brilliant performances both with the bat and the ball, including a half-century against Scottland Women in Abu Dhabi, alongside picking 7 wickets in the last 5 matches. 

Hayley Matthews smashed 3 half-centuries in the last 5 matches, alongside scalping 7 wickets in the last 5 games while playing for West Indies women in the series against Pakistan Women. 

Star South Africa opener Laura Wolvardt smashed 3 amazing centuries in the ODI series against Sri Lanka Women, including a half-century.