Airee, Taijul and Mushfiqur shortlisted for ICC Player of the Month award

Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee and Bangladesh duo Taijul Islam and Mushfiqur Rahim have been shortlisted for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award for May. Lauren Bell, Gull Feroza and Maddy Green are contenders for the women’s honour

Hyderabad: Nepal all-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee and the Bangladesh pair of Taijul Islam and Mushfiqur Rahim have been shortlisted for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award for May, while England seam bowler Lauren Bell, Pakistan batter Gull Feroza and New Zealand batter Maddy Green have made it to the shortlist for the women’s award.

Airee’s fine form with the bat saw him score an ODI century against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and he also had some useful spells with the ball to make the cut, while Taijul and Mushfiqur earned nominations on the back of fine performances in the home Test series against Pakistan that Bangladesh won 2-0.

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Bell was in prime form in ODIs and T20Is during home series against New Zealand and India, Green showed her mettle against England, while Gull struck two ODI centuries against Zimbabwe to make the shortlist.

MEN’S SHORTLIST

Dipendra Singh Airee (Nepal)

Airee shone in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 matches in Kirtipur, starting the month with a score of 100 against the UAE and accumulating 249 runs at an average of 49.80 and a strike-rate of 110.66 in six ODIs. He also grabbed eight wickets at an economy rate of 4.52, with a best of four for 24 against the USA.

Taijul Islam (Bangladesh)

The left-arm spinner was the leading wicket-taker in the home series against Pakistan, which Bangladesh won 2-0. He finished with 13 wickets at an average of 19.61 and had a best haul of six for 120 in the second innings of the second Test in Sylhet.

Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh)

The former Bangladesh captain was named Player of the Series against Pakistan for scoring 235 runs at an average of 63.25. His contributions included important knocks of 71 in the first innings of the first Test and 137 in the second innings of the second Test.

WOMEN’S SHORTLIST

Lauren Bell (England)

Bell warmed up for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup with some fine efforts in ODIs and T20Is. She was England’s highest wicket-taker in their ODI series against New Zealand and continued in the same vein in the subsequent T20Is against New Zealand and India. She took five wickets in three ODIs and eight in four T20Is.

Gull Feroza (Pakistan)

Gull was named Player of the Series as Pakistan beat Zimbabwe 3-0 in an ODI series played in Karachi. She had scores of 50, 100 and 106 not out, averaging 128 at a strike-rate of 103.64. In four T20Is, she scored 82 runs at a strike-rate of 157.69.

Maddy Green (New Zealand)

Green was named Player of the Series as New Zealand drew their ODI series in England 1-1, scoring 88 in the first match at Chester-le-Street. She accumulated 125 runs in the three matches at a strike-rate of 83.33. In three T20Is, she scored a total of 93 runs at a strike-rate of 98.93, including an unbeaten 56 in the second T20I at Canterbury.