Dubai, June 13 (FN Agency) Sri Lanka’s batting star Angelo Mathews and Pakistan’s debutante spin sensation Tuba Hassan have been voted the ICC men’s and women’s Players of the Month for May, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Monday. Mathews becomes the first Sri Lankan player to be named the Player of the Month since its inception in January 2021, scooping the award ahead of fellow nominees Asitha Fernando (Sri Lanka), and Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh). The Lankan batter was voted the recipient of the ICC Men’s Player of the Month after piling on the runs over the course of his side’s impressive ICC World Test Championship series victory against Bangladesh.
Amassing 344 runs at an average of 172 over the course of the two Tests, Mathews registered a huge score of 199 in the draw at Chattogram, and a supreme 145 not out in Mirpur. Pakistan’s Hassan was named the ICC Women’s Player of the Month after enjoying significant success with the ball during her debut international series. The 21-year-old leg spinner was instrumental in restricting scores set by opponents Sri Lanka in the three-game T20I series in Pakistan, where she captured the Player of the Series award, taking five wickets at an average of 8.8 and an economy rate of 3.66. In securing this month’s award, Hassan overcomes compatriot Bismah Maroof, and Jersey’s Trinity Smith. She is the first female player from Pakistan to win in the ICC Player of the Month award.