India wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, England captain Joe Root and Ireland batsman Paul Stirling will be battling for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men's Player of the Month Award as the 3 cricketers were announced in the shortlist for the month of January.
In women's' cricket, Pakistan's Diana Baig, South Africa's Shabnim Ismail and her compatriot Marizanne Kapp will be in contention for the newly-announced Player of the Month Award.
This shortlist is then voted on by the independent ICC Voting Academy and fans around the world. The ICC Voting Academy comprising prominent members of the cricket family including senior journalists, former players, and broadcasters and some members of the ICC Hall of Fame. Winners will be announced every second Monday of the month on the ICC's digital channels.
Pant, Root rewarded for series-winning contirbutions
Rishabh Pant made it to the shortlist for his heroics in India's celebrated 2-1 Test series win in Australia. The India wicketkeeper hit 97 in the 3rd Test in Sydney as India went to clinch a heroic draw while his unbeaten 89 in the 4th Test helped India breach Australia's Gabba fortress and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
England captain Joe 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 Paul Stirling played two ODIs against UAE and three ODIs v Afghanistan, where he scored three centuries in January.
On the other hand, Diana Baig of Pakistan played three ODIs and two T20Is against South Africa, where she led the wicket-takers with nine wickets in the three-match ODI series against South Africa. South Africa's Shabnim Ismail also played three ODIs and two T20Is against Pakistan and took seven wickets in the victorious ODI series against Pakistan, before taking five wickets in the second T20I against the same opposition. Her compatriot all-rounder Marizanne Kapp who is the third nominee in the category played two ODIs and two T20Is against Pakistan where she made 115 runs at a strike rate of 110.57 and added three wickets in the ODI series against Pakistan.
