News
ICC Announced Men’s and Women’s player of the month awards
The International Cricket Council (ICC) today revealed the latest crop of international stars shortlisted for the ICC Men’s and Women’s Player of the Month awards following an action-packed month of cricket in September.
The three-person ICC Men’s Player of the Month shortlist features one of England’s prolific short-format batters and an Indian duo that was instrumental in their trophy-winning Asia Cup campaign last month.
Mohammed Siraj enjoyed a return to the top of the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI rankings for bowlers in late September, and was the chief architect of India’s success in the final with a remarkable bowling display. Joining him on the shortlist is Shubman Gill, hoping to win his second Player of the Month prize after his run-scoring heroics in the Asia Cup continued into the subsequent ODI series against Australia.
England’s Dawid Malan completes the lineup, nominated for the first time after a superb showing in the series against New Zealand.
The shortlist for the ICC Women’s Player of the Month Award features a young South African duo that recorded an impressive T20I win in Pakistan, and Sri Lanka’s influential skipper, who led them to a historic T20I series victory in England.
Chamari Athapaththu gains her second Player of the Month nomination after her batting and bowling contributions inspired Sri Lanka’s first-ever series win on English soil. Joining her among the contenders for September’s crown is fellow all-rounder, Nadine de Klerk, whose wickets and runs proved vital to South Africa’s ODI successes against Pakistan and New Zealand, and her compatriot Laura Wolvaardt, who again showed glimpses of her batting brilliance with runs in both T20I and ODI formats against the same opposition.
An independent ICC Voting Academy* and fans around the world will now be invited to cast their votes to decide the winners, which will be announced next week. Fans registered at icc-cricket.com/awards will be able to vote for their favorite performers until Thursday.
ICC Men’s Player of the Month Nominees for September:
Shubman Gill (IND)
The Indian batter has enjoyed a hugely successful 2023 so far, and could potentially be in line to win his second Player of the Month accolade after runs again came flooding in during September. The 24-year-old registered 480 runs at an average of 80 in his eight ODIs during the month, with notable highlights including a stylish century against Bangladesh in Colombo, and 74 and 104 in back-to-back games against Australia.
Dawid Malan (ENG)
The England batter arrived into the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in sublime form in ODI cricket, scooping the Player of the Series award in the recent victory over New Zealand at home. His scores during the series progressed with each match. After a half-century in the second fixture, he came within a whisker of three figures with 96 at the Oval, before he passed the landmark in the final outing across London at Lord’s. His 277 ODI runs in September came at an average of 92.33.
Mohammed Siraj (IND)
The pacer returned to the summit of the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI bowler rankings in September thanks to a glittering performance to dismantle Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final in Colombo. Siraj took 11 wickets in total across six ODIs, but his month will be remembered for the memorable way in which he tore into the defending champions, bowling them out for 50 runs, taking six wickets for 21 which included a four-wicket over.
ICC Women’s Player of the Month Nominees for September:
Chamari Athapaththu (SL)
Sri Lanka’s iconic skipper was at the peak of her powers in the T20I series against England in September. After narrowly losing the rain-effected first contest, Athapaththu registered back-to-back Player of the Match performances to clinch their maiden victory over the home side in any format. Her trademark explosive batting and economical bowling helped restrict England to low totals in the second and third matches. A terrific 55 runs in 31 balls in the second match was followed by a match-winning 44 in 28 balls in the decisive encounter, along with three priceless England wickets.
Nadine de Klerk (SA)
The South African all-rounder celebrates her first nomination in the Player of the Month awards after valuable runs and wickets helped claim ODI victories over Pakistan and New Zealand last month. De Klerk chipped in with scores throughout September, only being dismissed once, and scoring 171 runs including successive half-centuries. The Player of the Series against Pakistan also impressed with the ball, recording 13 wickets in her five ODI outings at a superb average of 12.76.
Laura Wolvaardt (SA)
Despite losing the T20I series 3-0 against Pakistan, Wolvaardt was named Player of the Series after amassing 157 runs in her three matches. A quiet ODI series against Pakistan followed before the South African once again rediscovered her form, this time against New Zealand, striking a classy half-century before an unbeaten 124 saw her side confirm the series win and Wolvaardt claim another Player of the Series prize.
Cricket
Sri Lanka, India to Clash in Two-Test Series in August
Sri Lanka and India are set to play a two-match Test series between August 15 and 27 as part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle.
Although the official schedule is yet to be announced, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has reserved a two-week window for the series following the conclusion of the Lanka Premier League on August 9. Discussions between SLC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are continuing to finalise the venues and match dates.
The proposed tour was initially expected to include three Twenty20 Internationals as well, but there has been no confirmation regarding those matches. The T20 games were originally planned as a fundraising initiative for victims affected by Cyclone Ditwah last year.
Meanwhile, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia is currently in Sri Lanka as part of an International Cricket Council delegation reviewing recent developments in Sri Lanka Cricket administration. The Sri Lankan government recently dissolved the previous SLC body and appointed an interim Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee.
Cricket scheduling remains challenging for India due to a packed international calendar later this year. India are expected to tour Bangladesh in September for a white-ball series, although the tour is still uncertain after being postponed previously because of political tensions between the two nations.
India also have commitments against West Indies and Afghanistan later in the year, along with the Asian Games in Nagoya scheduled from September 9 to October 4.
India’s international season resumes in June with a Test series against Afghanistan before tours of Ireland, England and Zimbabwe.
Cricket
ICC Delegation Holds Key Talks With President on Cricket Reforms
Senior representatives of the International Cricket Council (ICC) met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo yesterday as discussions intensified over the future of cricket administration in Sri Lanka.
The ICC delegation, which includes Imran Khwaja and Devajit Sakia, is currently in the country following recent changes within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). Their visit comes amid growing attention on governance reforms and the restructuring of the national cricket administration.
During their stay, ICC officials also held meetings with members of the newly appointed SLC administration at the board’s headquarters, where discussions focused on restoring stability and strengthening the management framework of Sri Lankan cricket.
The latest developments follow the appointment of a nine-member Cricket Transformation Committee by Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage after the resignation of the previous SLC leadership.
The committee, chaired by Eran Wickremaratne, has been entrusted with overseeing the administration of the sport and implementing a series of reforms until new elections are conducted.
News
Pavithra Fernando Urges Reforms to Take Sri Lanka Rugby Forward (Video)
Sri Lanka Rugby President Pavithra Fernando believes the country possesses the talent and structure at school level to compete with the best in Asia, but says greater emphasis must now be placed on strengthening club rugby and retaining young players in the sport.
Speaking about Sri Lanka’s current standing in Asian rugby, Fernando noted that the national teams remain among the top-ranked sides in the region despite a slight decline following the Covid-19 pandemic.
“At present, Sri Lanka is ranked third in the sevens format and fourth in the 15-a-side game in Asia. Before Covid, we were actually ranked second in sevens rugby. We may have dropped a little, but we have still managed to remain competitive because our schools rugby structure is extremely strong and the club competitions are also of a high standard,” Fernando said.
He added that while Sri Lanka has managed to maintain its place among Asia’s competitive rugby nations, the country has yet to make significant progress towards the top tier.
“We have stayed in contention, but we have not really moved forward and developed beyond that level,” he explained.
Fernando stressed that Sri Lanka’s schools rugby system continues to be one of the strongest in the region, producing players capable of matching leading Asian nations.
Referring to the country’s recent performances at youth level, he said, “Last year, our Under-27 team had only one month of preparation before the tournament, yet we still finished runners-up. We defeated Hong Kong in the first round before losing to them in the final. That clearly shows the standard and potential we have at school level.”
However, Fernando pointed out that the biggest challenge facing Sri Lanka Rugby is the lack of opportunities for players once they leave school.
“More than 90 percent of school rugby players do not continue the sport after school because they do not see a future in rugby in Sri Lanka. That is an issue we must address urgently,” he said.
Fernando believes improving the club rugby structure and creating a sustainable pathway for young players will be essential if Sri Lanka is to challenge the leading rugby nations in Asia and regain its former standing in regional rugby.
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