West Indies’ left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie and Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu have been honored with the ICC Player of the Month awards for May 2024.
Motie emerged victorious in the Men’s category, triumphing over competition from Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi and Ireland’s Lorcan Tucker. His outstanding performance included claiming eight wickets at an average of 8.50 in a series against South Africa, crucially contributing to the West Indies’ momentum ahead of their Men’s T20 World Cup campaign. Motie’s standout efforts included pivotal spells that restricted South Africa’s batting, earning him the Player of the Series accolade.
“It means a lot to me and I am thrilled to win this award. It’s very encouraging, I have put in a lot of work during this season and I am happy that I am seeing the rewards now,” Motie expressed his joy.
Meanwhile, Chamari Athapaththu secured her second ICC Women’s Player of the Month award by excelling in Sri Lanka’s successful qualification for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. Her stellar contributions included topping the run-scoring charts and achieving impressive figures of 151 runs and six wickets in May. Athapaththu’s highlight was a remarkable innings of 102 runs off 63 balls against Scotland in the Qualifying tournament final.
“I am extremely delighted and honoured to once again receive the ICC Women’s Player of the Month Award,” Athapaththu remarked, emphasizing the motivation derived from such recognition.
Both players showcased exceptional skills and leadership in their respective performances, underscoring their significant contributions to their teams’ successes on the international stage.
