Mushfiq named ICC Player of the Month for May

Wicket-keeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim has been voted as the ICC Player of the Month for May 2021. 

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced the winners of the ICC Player of the Month Awards for May which recognise and celebrate the best performances from both male and female cricketers across all forms of international cricket throughout the year.

Mushfiqur Rahim played one Test and three ODIs against Sri Lanka during this time period.

He helped Bangladesh win their first ODI series against Sri Lanka where he was the best player of the series. 

He scored 237 runs in three ODIs at an average of 79.

Photo: TBS

The veteran cricketer also scored 40 in both the innings in the Test against Sri Lanka at Pallekelle earlier in the month. 

Commenting on Rahim's performance in May, VVS Laxman representing the ICC Voting Academy added: "Even after 15 years at the highest level, Mushfiqur has not lost his appetite for run-making. He was at his imperious best in the one-day series at home against Sri Lanka, a picture of consistency with the highlight being 125 in the second match which helped his side secure a winning 2-0 lead in the three-match series. What made his feat even more notable was that it was Bangladesh's first-ever ODI series triumph against the 1996 World Cup champions. To shore up the middle order and don the wicket-keeping gloves speaks volumes of his fitness and skills."

Hasan Ali (PAK) and Praveen Jayawickrama (SL) were the other two nominated for the award. 

All-rounder Kathryn Bryce from Scotland was deservingly voted the ICC Women's Player of the Month for May 2021.

She is the first player from Scotland, male, or female, to make it to the top 10 of the batting or bowling lists in the MRF Tyres ICC Player Rankings released recently. Kathryn played four T20Is against Ireland where she scored 96 runs and took 5 wickets with an economy rate of 4.76 in the month of May.