The ICC has announced its nominees for the Player of the Month award for April. The men’s shortlist is Bangladesh seamer Nahid Rana, Oman captain Jatinder Singh and UAE left-arm seamer Ajay Kumar. The women’s nominees are South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt, Sri Lanka opener Imesha Dulani and Brazil all-rounder Laura Cardoso.
Men’s nominees
Rana, 23, earned his place through Bangladesh’s 2-1 ODI series win over New Zealand at home. He took eight wickets at an economy of 4.46 and was Player of the Series. His best figures, 5/32 in Mirpur, set up a 55-run win in the second ODI.
Jatinder Singh scored 266 runs at 53.20, with a strike rate of 115.15, in ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 matches in Nepal. His 139 off 91 balls against Nepal is the highest ODI score by an Oman batter.
Ajay Kumar took nine wickets at an economy of 3.66 early in his ODI career, including 3/34 against Nepal and 6/35 against Oman.
Women’s nominees
Wolvaardt, who has already won the award twice recently, made two 69s in ODIs against New Zealand and then a century and three fifties in a T20I series against India.
Dulani scored 116 runs as Sri Lanka won the ICC Women’s Championship series against Bangladesh 2-1, then 82 in two T20Is, including 55 off 40 balls.
Cardoso scored 203 runs at a strike rate above 130 in seven T20Is and took 17 wickets at an economy of 2.24. Her 9/4 against Lesotho made her the first player to take nine wickets in a T20I.
