Not Babar Azam but this Pakistan star included in ICC's Player of the Month nominees following embarrassing defeat vs USA

The ICC has announced the nominees for their prestigious Player of the Month award for May 2024. Pakistan's pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi finds himself in contention alongside West Indies' Gudakesh Motie and Ireland's Lorcan Tucker.

Shaheen Afridi Up for ICC Player of the Month Award

Afridi's nomination stems from his impressive bowling displays in the T20I series against Ireland and England. He consistently delivered impactful performances with the new ball, proving to be a crucial wicket-taker for his team. Throughout May, Afridi scalped 10 wickets at an exceptional average of just 14.5. His most destructive spell came in the second T20I against Ireland, where he bagged impressive figures of 3/14 and was rightfully awarded Player of the Match. He continued his wicket-taking form against England, picking up 3/36 in the second T20I in Birmingham.

Afridi will now be hoping to impress the voters and secure his first ICC Player of the Month award.

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Gudakesh Motie was instrumental in the West Indies' dominant 3-0 series win over South Africa last month. His exceptional spin bowling left the South African batsmen befuddled throughout the series. Motie started strong, claiming three wickets in the first match. He followed that up with another impressive three-wicket haul in the second game, finishing with figures of 3/22. His dominance continued in the final match, where he added two more wickets to his tally.

By the series' end, Motie had a staggering eight wickets to his name, achieved at a remarkable average of just 8.5 runs per wicket. This outstanding performance solidified his role as a key player for the West Indies.

Ireland's Tucker Lights Up the Batting Charts

Lorcan Tucker, the Irish wicketkeeper-batsman, emerged as a batting force in May. He displayed remarkable consistency throughout the month, playing crucial knocks to propel his team forward.

Leading from the front, Tucker slammed a well-deserved half-century against Pakistan in the second T20I. He didn't stop there, following it up with a blistering 41-ball 73 in the final T20I against the same opponents. This impressive knock was laced with 13 boundaries and a mighty six.

Tucker's overall batting in May was phenomenal. He amassed 227 runs across six innings, boasting an impressive average of 37.83. This strong performance has undoubtedly bolstered his reputation as a reliable and impactful batsman for Ireland.

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ICC reveals nominees for Women's Player of the Month

The ICC has revealed the nominees for May's Women's Player of the Month, alongside the men's nominations. The contenders include Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu, Scotland’s Kathryn Bryce, and England’s Sophie Ecclestone.

Chamari Athapaththu had an outstanding May, amassing 151 runs with an average of 37.75. She also made significant contributions with the ball, taking 6 wickets at an impressive average of 9.16. Kathryn Bryce was instrumental for Scotland, playing a crucial role both as a batsman and a bowler. Her all-round performance helped her team secure a spot in the Women’s T20 World Cup. Sophie Ecclestone showed solid form in the T20I series against Pakistan, scoring 28 runs over three matches and claiming five wickets at an average of 9.4. In the ODIs, she took 6 wickets across two matches.

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