On Thursday, the ICC Player of the Month for August nominations unveiled two Pakistani cricket stars in the spotlight, Babar Azam and Shadab Khan, accompanied by West Indies’ Nicholas Pooran.
Babar Azam, the eminent Pakistani batsman, aims to carve his name in cricket history as the first male player to secure three ICC Men’s Player of the Month Awards. His nomination was well-deserved, as he displayed his batting mastery by amassing 53 and 60 runs during Pakistan’s dominant 3-0 ODI series victory over Afghanistan. Furthermore, Azam’s colossal 151-run innings in the Asia Cup opener against Nepal last month solidified his candidacy.
On the other hand, Shadab Khan, the versatile all-rounder, celebrated his inaugural nomination for the Player of the Month awards. His selection sprouted from a stellar August, where he excelled with both bat and ball against Afghanistan and Nepal. Despite initially securing just one wicket in the first two Afghanistan encounters, Shadab’s exceptional three-wicket haul for 42 runs ensured a clean sweep. Additionally, his remarkable bowling performance, featuring four wickets for 27 runs against Nepal, accentuates his prowess and underlines his worthiness as a nominee.
The nominations of Babar Azam and Shadab Khan for ICC Player of the Month reflect their outstanding contributions to Pakistani cricket. Their talent and consistency make them strong contenders for the prestigious award.