The International Cricket Council (ICC) has revealed its shortlist for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for October, with three spinners battling it out for the prestigious title. The nominees are Pakistan’s Nauman Ali, Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan, and South Africa’s Senuran Muthusamy.
October saw several thrilling contests across formats, including a Test series between Pakistan and South Africa, which ended in a draw. Both teams have contributed players to the ICC shortlist.
Afghanistan’s star spinner Rashid Khan also made the list after his impressive performances in the white-ball series against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.
Senuran Muthusamy of South Africa had a standout month, taking 11 wickets in the Test series against Pakistan. Though South Africa lost the first Test, Muthusamy contributed with the bat in the second, scoring an unbeaten 89 to level the series. Over the two Tests, Muthusamy averaged 53 with the bat, amassing 106 runs, and took 11 wickets at an average of 18.36.
Nauman Ali of Pakistan, at the age of 39, has been a model of consistency, playing a key role in Pakistan’s victory in the first Test. He claimed 14 wickets across four innings, including a remarkable 10-wicket haul in the opening match.
Rashid Khan, the Afghan leg-spinner, was in sensational form during October. He picked up a five-wicket haul in the second ODI against Bangladesh and followed that with two three-wicket hauls in the same series. Against Zimbabwe, he claimed three wickets in the second ODI. Overall, Rashid took 14 wickets in October.
In the women’s category, the nominees are India’s Smriti Mandhana, South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt, and former champion Ash Gardner of Australia, who all had excellent performances during the month.
| Player | Team | Performance in October |
|---|---|---|
| Nauman Ali | Pakistan | 14 wickets (4 innings), including a 10-wicket haul in the first Test. |
| Rashid Khan | Afghanistan | 14 wickets, including a 5-wicket haul vs Bangladesh and 3 wickets against Zimbabwe. |
| Senuran Muthusamy | South Africa | 11 wickets at an average of 18.36 and 106 runs at an average of 53 in the Test series. |
The winners will be announced soon, but October has certainly provided some unforgettable cricketing moments from these spinners!