Babar Azam and Shadab Khan of Pakistan, along with a dynamic West Indies wicket-keeper, Nicholas Pooran, have emerged as the contenders for the prestigious ICC Player of the Month award for August. Their exceptional performances in recent matches have earned them well-deserved nominations.
Babar Azam, Pakistan’s prolific right-handed batsman, is on a quest to make history by potentially becoming the first male cricketer to secure three ICC Men’s Player of the Month Awards.
Babar showcased his class and skill by amassing scores of 53 and 60 during Pakistan’s series victory against Afghanistan. Notably, he also played a stunning knock of 151 against Nepal in the Asia Cup opener last month.
Shadab Khan, a versatile all-rounder, has earned his first-ever nomination for the Player of the Month awards. His impressive performances with both the bat and ball in matches against Afghanistan and Nepal in August have garnered recognition.
While Shadab initially managed just one wicket in the first two matches against Afghanistan, he made a remarkable comeback with a 3-42 performance that secured a whitewash. Additionally, he delivered a commendable spell of 4-27 in the victory against Nepal.
Nicholas Pooran, hailing from the West Indies, has also entered the race for the award. Pooran’s contribution of 176 runs in five T20I matches against India played a pivotal role in his team’s 3-2 series victory.
As a testament to his outstanding performance, he was named Player of the Series, marking the first West Indies nomination in the Men’s Player of the Month awards since Gudakesh Motie’s recognition in February 2023.
In the ICC Women’s Player of the Month Award category, three first-time nominees have emerged: Ainna Hamizah Hashim from Malaysia, Arlene Kelly from Ireland, and Iris Zwilling from the Netherlands.
The ICC selects these nominees based on their performances throughout each calendar month, from start to finish. The final winners are determined through a voting process involving the independent ICC Voting Academy, comprised of eminent members of the cricket community, including renowned journalists, former players, broadcasters, and ICC Hall of Fame members.
The Academy’s votes hold a 90% weightage in the decision, while cricket enthusiasts registered with the ICC can cast their votes on the ICC website, contributing the remaining 10%. The winners are announced every second Monday of the month via ICC’s digital channels.
