Cricket

Pakistan's Noman Ali has been crowned the ICC Men's Player of the Month for October, a testament to his exceptional performance in the recently concluded Test series against England. Ali's stellar bowling displays played a pivotal role in Pakistan's historic series victory, making him the first Pakistani male player to receive the honor since Babar Azam in August 2022.Ali's impact was undeniable in the two Test matches he featured in during October. In the first Test, he claimed impressive figures of 11/147, helping Pakistan bounce back from an early defeat. His exceptional bowling performance laid the foundation for Pakistan's eventual series triumph.The second Test witnessed Ali's career-best Test figures of 8/46, a game-changing performance that propelled Pakistan to their first Test victory on home ground since 2021. His exceptional bowling display restricted England to a mere 112 runs, setting the stage for Pakistan's dominant nine-wicket victory.Ali's contributions extended beyond his bowling prowess. In the final Test match, he played a crucial innings of 45 runs, helping Pakistan establish a crucial 77-run lead in the first innings. His resilient knock proved invaluable in Pakistan's eventual victory.Ali's outstanding performance has earned him widespread recognition and praise. He expressed his gratitude to his teammates for their contributions to Pakistan's series victory, acknowledging their collective effort in achieving this historic win on home soil."I am delighted to be named the ICC Men's Player of the Month and deeply grateful to all my teammates who helped me put my best performances forward to help Pakistan win a historic home Test series against England," Ali said. "It is always exciting to be a part of such memorable wins for your country."Ali's performance has not only earned him individual accolades but has also contributed significantly to Pakistan's resurgence in Test cricket. His exceptional bowling skills and unwavering determination have made him a vital cog in the team's success, and his contributions will undoubtedly continue to play a crucial role in Pakistan's future endeavors.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the nominees for its Player of the Month awards for October, honoring exceptional performances in both men's and women's cricket.Men's Nominees:* Noman Ali (Pakistan): The Pakistani pacer impressed in the Test series against England, claiming 20 wickets at an average of 13.85 in two matches. His performance played a pivotal role in Pakistan's 2-1 series victory.* Mitchell Santner (New Zealand): Santner's impactful bowling in the second Test against India in Pune earned him a nomination. His figures of 7 for 53 in the first innings and 6 for 104 in the second innings were instrumental in New Zealand's historic series win.* Kagiso Rabada (South Africa): Rabada's outstanding bowling performance in South Africa's Test series victory against Bangladesh secured his nomination. He reached the milestone of 300 Test wickets and played a crucial role in South Africa's victory in the first Test with figures of 9 for 72.Women's Nominees:* Amelia Kerr (New Zealand): Kerr played a key role in New Zealand's victory at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in the UAE. She set a new record for wickets taken in the tournament, claiming 15 wickets and scoring 135 runs, earning her the Player of the Tournament award.* Deandra Dottin (West Indies): Dottin's impactful return to the West Indies team during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup earned her a nomination. Her all-round performance helped the team reach the semi-finals, with notable contributions against Scotland, Bangladesh, and England.* Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa): Wolvaardt's consistent performance as captain of the South African women's team during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup earned her a nomination. She finished as the tournament's highest run-scorer with 223 runs at an average of 44.60, leading South Africa to the final.The ICC Player of the Month awards recognize outstanding individual performances in international cricket. The winners will be announced in due course.

Washington Sundar, the Indian all-rounder, has been nominated for the ICC Player of the Month Award for July, alongside England's Gus Atkinson and Scotland's Charlie Cassell. Sundar's nomination is a testament to his recent performances, which have seen him establish himself as a key player for India.Sundar's journey to international recognition has been marked by perseverance and resilience. After battling injuries and spending years on the fringes of the Indian team, he finally broke through in Zimbabwe during a five-match T20I series. With the regular players rested, Sundar seized the opportunity and emerged as the team's leading spin-bowling all-rounder.In the first T20I, Sundar impressed with bowling figures of 2/11 and a valuable contribution of 27 runs. He played a crucial role in India's comeback, helping them turn a 1-0 deficit into a 4-1 series victory. He took six more wickets in the remaining four matches and was named Player of the Match in the third game for his outstanding figures of 3/15. Sundar finished the series as the joint-highest wicket-taker with eight scalps.Sundar's impressive form continued in the subsequent series against Sri Lanka, where he earned the Player of the Match award in the only match he played. In a thrilling Super Over, he showcased his all-around abilities.Meanwhile, Gus Atkinson made a sensational Test debut for England at Lord's, taking 12 wickets in the match. He bagged a five-wicket haul in each innings, including a remarkable 7/45 in the first innings. Atkinson's heroics helped England secure an innings victory by 114 runs.Charlie Cassell, on the other hand, made a record-breaking ODI debut for Scotland against Oman. He claimed a seven-wicket haul (7/21), breaking Kagiso Rabada's nine-year-old record for the best bowling figures on ODI debut. Cassell's dream start included two wickets off his first two deliveries in international cricket. His performance ranked as the 7th-best bowling figures in ODI history.