After turning in match-winning performances for their nations in the ODIs, Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman and Thailand’s Naruemol Chaiwai were awarded the ICC Men’s and Women’s Players of the Month for April, respectively.
Following a vote among a specialist panel made up of ICC Hall of Famers, former international players, and media representatives, who together with worldwide cricket fans registered at icc-cricket.com had been voting since the nominees were announced last week, both batters were named April’s outstanding performers.
The ICC has announced the winners of the ICC Player of the Month awards for April 2023. #CricketTwitterhttps://t.co/vfZPFxl6Jf
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) May 9, 2023
Fakhar wins the monthly award for Pakistan for the first time since Sidra Ameen in November 2022, and he does so after scoring two key match-winning hundreds in Pakistan’s victory over New Zealand in the ODI series.
Fakhar Zaman’s golden ODI streak has not gone unnoticed by Pakistan captain Babar Azam 🌟
Details ➡️ https://t.co/NBnCNZKige pic.twitter.com/b4FfSdhBGK
— ICC (@ICC) May 1, 2023
After a lacklustre T20I series, Fakhar was instrumental in his team’s triumph in the next ODI matchups.
The batsman hit 117 off 114 balls in a 124-run opening partnership with Imam-ul-Haq to earn a five-wicket victory in the first ODI while chasing 289 in the Rawalpindi encounter.
In the second ODI at the same location, Pakistan accomplished their second-highest successful ODI chase as Fakhar hit an unbeaten 180 in 144 balls in the face of a massive goal of 337.
Fakhar commented, “This month has been one of the highlights of my career,” while reflecting on his accomplishments. In Rawalpindi, I particularly loved making back-to-back hundreds, but my best score was the 180 not out in the second game. In the international vote, Fakhar defeated fellow contenders Mark Chapman (New Zealand) and Prabath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka).
After consistently scoring heavily throughout Thailand’s historic ODI series triumph over Zimbabwe, which the hosts won 3-0, Chaiwai celebrates receiving the honour.
The Thai captain, who led her team to victory in the series, was awarded Player-of-the-Series for her two undefeated half-centuries.
