Online Reporter
ZIMBABWE opening batsman, Brian Bennet is battling India’s Abhishek Sharma and Kuldeep Yadav for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award for September, while Smriti Mandhana of India, Sidra Amin of Pakistan and Tazmin Britts of South Africa form the shortlist for the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award.
Abhishek’s Player of the Series effort at the Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates and spinner Yadav’s crucial strikes during the tournament have put them in the reckoning while Bennett is in the shortlist on the back of some strong T20I performances across different series.Mandhana was named Player of the Series in a home ODI series against Australia to emerge as a strong contender for the monthly award while Sidra and Brits were prolific in their ODI series in Pakistan to also come out strongly.
Abhishek Sharma (India)
The left-handed opener scored 314 runs in seven matches at an average of 44.85 and an astounding strike-rate of 200 in the Asia Cup. His attacking batting was crucial in his team’s wins in the continental tournament, and he achieved the highest rating points ever in the ICC Men’s T20I Batting Rankings when he touched 931 at the end of the Super Fours stage of the tournament.
Kuldeep Yadav (India)
The left-arm wrist-spinner was the leading wicket-taker in the Asia Cup with 17 scalps in seven T20Is at an average of 9.29 and an economy rate of 6.27.
The highlight for him was a haul of four for 30 in the final against Pakistan and he also grabbed four wickets in a league match against the United Arab Emirates.
Brian Bennett (Zimbabwe)
The 21-year-old top-order batter aggregated 497 runs in nine T20Is at an average of 55.22 and an impressive strike rate of 165.66. He was the leading run-scorer in the T20I series against Sri Lanka and Namibia before registering scores of 72, 65 and 111 in his first three innings in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Africa Qualifier.
The ICC Player of the Month Voting Process:
The three nominees for either category are shortlisted based on performances from the first to the last day of each calendar month. The shortlist is then voted on by the independent ICC Voting Academy* and fans around the world.
The ICC Voting Academy comprises prominent members of the cricket fraternity including well-known journalists, former players, broadcasters and members of the ICC Hall of Fame.
The Voting Academy submit their votes by email and hold a 90 per cent share of the vote.
Fans registered with the ICC can vote via the ICC website, accounting for the remaining 10 per cent. Winners are announced every second week of the month on ICC’s digital channels. — ICC/Sports Reporter.
Mathew Masinge