Gudakes Motie and Chamari Athapaththu Named ICC Players of the Month for May
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has named Gudakesh Motie of the West Indies as the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for May 2024. The left-arm spinner played a pivotal role in the West Indies’ impressive series win over touring South Africa, providing a promising build-up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
Motie’s exceptional performance saw him claim eight wickets at an impressive average of 8.50 across the three-match T20I series in Jamaica. He becomes the second West Indian to win the men’s award, following in the footsteps of his teammate Shamar Joseph, who was crowned in January.
In the women’s category, Chamari Athapaththu of Sri Lanka has been named the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for May 2024. The Sri Lankan captain’s outstanding performances propelled her team to qualify for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in Bangladesh later this year.
This marks Athapaththu’s second ICC Women’s Player of the Month accolade, having previously won the award in September 2023. Her remarkable form continues as she recently claimed the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year for 2023.
During May, Motie’s left-arm spin proved instrumental in the West Indies’ series triumph. In the first match, defending a score of 175, he restricted South Africa’s middle-order charge with figures of 3/25, including the prized wicket of the dangerous Rassie van der Dussen.
In the second match, Motie once again hampered a promising South African run chase, this time with career-best figures of 3/22. He continued his impressive form in the final outing, exploiting conditions and varying his pace expertly to claim 2/21, earning him the Player of the Series award.
Athapaththu shone brightly at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in Abu Dhabi, where Sri Lanka secured their place in the upcoming World Cup. She topped the runscoring charts at the event, amassing 151 runs and six wickets in May.
Her standout performance came in the final against Scotland, where she scored a sublime 102 off just 63 balls, guiding Sri Lanka to the Qualifier trophy and cementing their spot in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.
Motie and Athapaththu were chosen as the winners following a vote conducted among global fans registered at icc-cricket.com and a specialist panel comprising ICC Hall of Famers, former international players, and media representatives.
Motie claimed the Men’s award ahead of fellow ICC Men’s T20 World Cup contenders Shaheen Shah Afridi of Pakistan and Lorcan Tucker of Ireland. Athapaththu won the women’s award, outshining Kathryn Bryce of Scotland and Sophie Ecclestone of England.
These monthly accolades recognize the outstanding performances of cricketers worldwide and highlight the talent and dedication that drives the sport forward.
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