By Sukuoluhle Ndlovu
The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the nominations for the player of the month for January an official said.
The awards were introduced by ICC in a bid to celebrate and appreciate the best players every month for both the male and female cricketers.
The ICC Men’s player of the month for January are; Rishabh Pant (ND), Joe Root (ENG) and Paul Stirling (IRE). For the Women’s are Diana Baig (PAK), Shabrim Ismail (SA) and Marizanne Kapp (SA).
The ICC Media and communications senior manager said that the three nominees will be voted for.
“The three nominees for each of the categories are shortlisted based on on – field performances on overall achievements during the period of that month which is the first day to the last day of each calendar month. Winners will be announced every second Monday of the month on the ICC;s digital channels,” he said.
Of the nominees;Pant played two tests against Australia where he scored a 97 at Sydney to ensure a draw before an unbeaten 89 at Brisbane that led India to a historic series win against arch rivals Australia.
England Captain Root, played two Tests against Sri – Lanka, where he scored a 228 and 186 and led his team to a 2-0 Test series victory. The third nominee in the category, Ireland’s Stirling played two ODIs v UAE and three ODIs v Afghanistan, where he scored three centuries.
Baig of Pakistan played three ODIs and two T20ls against South Africa, where she led the wicket takers with nine wickets in the three match ODI series against South Africa. South Africa’s Ismail also played three ODI’s and two T20ls against Pakistan and took seven wickets in the victorious ODI series against Pakistan before taking five wickets in the second T20l against the same opposition.
Her compatriot all rounder Kapp who is the third nominee in the category played two ODI’s and two T20ls against Pakistan where she made 115 runs at a strike rate an added three wickets in the ODI series against Pakistan.
