Wanindu Hasaranga, Ashleigh Gardner wins ICC 'Player of the Month' award

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced Wanindu Hasaranga, the Sri Lankan spinner, and Ashleigh Gardner, the Australian women’s team all-rounder, as the recipients of the ‘Player of the Month’ award for their remarkable performances in June. Hasaranga earned this honor for his outstanding achievements during the World Cup Qualifier matches in Zimbabwe, where he set new records. Ashleigh Gardner, the hero of the Women’s Ashes, became the first player to win the Player-of-the-Month accolade three times.

Daily Current Affairs 2023

Why Wanindu Hasaranga?

During the ICC World Cup Qualifiers, Wanindu Hasaranga played a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s successful qualification for the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, scheduled to begin on September 5. Hasaranga emerged as the top wicket-taker in the qualifiers, impressively securing 22 wickets in 7 matches with an average of 12.90. He made a significant impact from the very start of the tournament, claiming six wickets against UAE in the opening match. He continued his remarkable performance with figures of 5-13 and 5-79 against Oman and Ireland, respectively. Notably, Hasaranga achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first spinner to achieve three consecutive five-wicket hauls in ODI history.

Why Ashleigh Gardner ?

Ashleigh Gardner played a pivotal role in Australia’s triumph in the Women’s Ashes one-off Test match, where they emerged victorious by a margin of 89 runs. Gardner’s contribution was instrumental in her team’s success. In the first innings, she scored 40 runs and followed it up with a remarkable four-wicket haul. However, her most remarkable feat came in the second innings when she single-handedly secured the win for her country by taking eight wickets for just 66 runs. Gardner’s exceptional performance proved to be the decisive factor in Australia’s victory in the match.

How they selected?

A vote conducted among a specialist panel comprising ICC Hall of Famers, former international players, media representatives and global cricket fans registered at icc-cricket.com decided the winners, following the announcement of nominees last week.

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