Wanindu Hasaranga, Travis Head and Sean Williams nominated for ICC Men’s Player of the Month award

1 of 1

Dubai . Sri Lankan leg-spin all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, Australian left-handed batsman Travis Head and Zimbabwean veteran all-rounder Sean Williams have been nominated for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award for June 2023.

Hasaranga performed brilliantly in June, taking 26 wickets at an average of just 10. He had huge success during the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe, becoming the first spinner to take three consecutive five-wicket hauls in ODI cricket.

The leg-spinner had impressive performances in his bowling against the UAE (6/24), Oman (5/13) and Ireland (5/79), and became the first Pakistan pacer to take three consecutive five-wicket hauls after Waqar Younis. Wale became the second player. Sri Lanka qualified for the Men’s ODI World Cup to be held in India from 5 October to 19 November.

Head, on the other hand, is ranked fourth in the ICC Men’s Test Batting Rankings and demonstrated his growing influence in the Australian batting attack in the biggest Test stage – the ICC World Test Championship final at The Oval.

Head came to the crease when Australia were in trouble on the first day’s play at 76/3, scoring a brilliant 163 and sharing a 285-run stand with Steve Smith (121), swinging the momentum in his side’s favour. ,

The left-handed batsman was adjudged player of the match for his crucial and brilliant 163 in the first innings, which set up Australia to clinch their maiden WTC title with an emphatic 209-run win over India. He continued his momentum in the First Ashes Test, registering another half-century in Birmingham as Australia recorded a thrilling two-wicket victory.

Meanwhile, Williams lit up the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier for hosts Zimbabwe with top-notch run-scoring performances throughout June. The left-handed batsman scored 532 runs in his five ODIs at an average of 133, including three hundreds against Nepal, USA and Oman, all of which came at a tremendous strike rate of 148.60.

With a further 91 in their win over the Netherlands, Williams remained a key figure for the hosts until the Super Sixes stage, although Zimbabwe did not secure their place for the ODI World Cup.

With this nomination, Williams aims to become the first male player of the month from Zimbabwe since Sikandar Raza was awarded in August 2022.(IANS)

read this also – Click to read the news of your state / city before the newspaper