New Delhi: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the nominees for the February Player of the Month award, recognizing some of the best individual performances from across the cricket world. The shortlist includes a mix of established names and emerging talents who have delivered outstanding performances in a busy month in international cricket.
In the men’s category, Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan, England all-rounder Will Jacks and American fast bowler Shadley van Schalkwyk were nominated. Meanwhile, the women’s shortlist includes Sri Lanka’s Harshitha Samarawickrama, Pakistan captain Fatima Sana and Indian sea bowler Arundhati Reddy.
Starting with the men’s nominees, Sahibzada Farhan was one of the standout players of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The aggressive opener was in exceptional form throughout the tournament, scoring a remarkable 383 runs in just seven T20 internationals. He achieved an impressive average of 76.60 and a strike rate of 160.25, demonstrating both consistency and willingness to attack.
Farhan’s performance was not only impressive but also historic. He broke Virat Kohli’s record for most runs scored in a single edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. He added another milestone to his name, becoming the first player to score two centuries in one edition of the tournament, against Namibia and Sri Lanka. His dominance at the top of the order played a crucial role in Pakistan’s election campaign.
Englishman Will Jacks also earned a place on the shortlist thanks to his all-round brilliance. Jacks made a significant contribution with both bat and ball, showcasing his versatility. He scored 192 runs in nine T20Is at an impressive strike rate of 173.21, consistently ensuring quick runs for his side.
What makes Jack’s performance even more valuable is his contribution with the ball. He picked up 11 wickets during the tournament and maintained an economy rate of 8.04. His ability to perform well in both departments helped England reach the semi-finals. It is noteworthy that he was named player of the game four times, which underlines his decisive influence.
Completing the men’s shortlist is Shadley van Schalkwyk of the United States, who has emerged as one of the tournament’s most exciting fast bowlers. Although he only played four games, he made quite an impression with 13 wickets and an economy rate of 6.80.
Van Schalkwyk ended the first group stage as the leading wicket-taker. His performances included two outstanding matches in which he took four wickets each for 25 runs against India and Pakistan. He then put in another strong performance, scoring three goals for 21 against the Netherlands. His consistency and ability to deliver under pressure have made him a deserving candidate.
Coming to the women’s category, Sri Lanka’s Harshitha Samarawickrama played a key role in her team’s win in the ODI series against the West Indies. The left-handed batsman scored 171 runs in three games at an average of 57.00 and a strike rate of 60.85. Their contributions helped Sri Lanka to a 2-1 series win in the Caribbean.
Samarawickrama was the leading run-scorer in the series with scores of 66, 35 and 70. Her ability to anchor the innings and build partnerships proved crucial for her side.
Pakistan captain Fatima Sana also had an impressive month, delivering strong performances in both the ODIs and T20Is. In the ODI series against South Africa, she scored 57 runs in two matches at a strike rate of 126.66 and also picked up two wickets.
She continued her good form in the T20I series where she emerged as the leading run-scorer. What stood out were her innings of 90 in the first game and an unbeaten 47 in the third game. In addition to her batting, she contributed with the ball by taking two wickets, highlighting her all-round abilities.
India’s Arundhati Reddy completes the women’s shortlist after an impressive performance in the T20I series against Australia. Reddy was the leading wicket-taker as India won the three-match series 2-1. She performed consistently in all games, posting figures of four for 22, two for 30 and two for 35.
Her overall average of 10.87 and save rate of 7.25 reflect her effectiveness and ball control, especially in difficult conditions.
The winners of the ICC Player of the Month awards will be determined through a combined voting process. An independent ICC Voting Academy, consisting of distinguished journalists, former players, broadcasters and members of the ICC Hall of Fame, holds a 90 percent voting share. The remaining 10 percent comes from fans around the world who can cast their vote via the ICC’s official website.
The awards continue to recognize individual excellence in international cricket and give fans the opportunity to recognize and support their favorite players. The winners will be announced in the second week of each month via the ICC’s digital platforms.
