ALYSSA HEALY AND KESHAV MAHARAJ CLAIM ICC PLAYER OF THE MONTH AWARDS FOR APRIL

Khel Today Bureau

New Delhi: The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced that Australia’s star of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Final Alyssa Healy, and South Africa’s spin wizard Keshav Maharaj have been voted the ICC Women’s and Men’s Players of the Month for April 2022.

Healy was selected the standout female player in April following her match-winning innings of 170 in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Final in Christchurch, setting a record for the highest score ever made in any World Cup Final in the process. Tormenting England’s bowlers from the outset and scoring at a strike rate of 123.18, her blistering showcase at the crease steered Australia to a formidable total of 356 for 5, and with England falling short in reply, helped her side claim their seventh ODI crown.

In being selected the ICC Player of the Month for April, Healy becomes the second female to win the accolade on two separate occasions after securing her first award back in April 2021. Healy was selected ahead of fellow nominees Janet Mbabazi (Uganda) and Nat Sciver (England).

On being named the ICC Women’s Player of the Month, Healy responded “I am very humbled to win this month’s award ahead of two outstanding players. It was great to see Janet Mbabazi’s name in the mix after a stellar tri-series for Uganda. I’m looking forward to seeing her name in contention for more ICC Awards over the years to come. Thanks to all the fans for voting and supporting the women’s game. It’s been a great start to 2022 for our sport and I’m looking forward to seeing what the rest of the year holds.”

JP Duminy, the former South Africa international and ICC Player of the Month voting panel member remarked, “Alyssa’s performance has certainly taken the world by storm and to do it in a Final says a lot about the character of this woman. She is a pioneer in the women’s game and has set the bar extremely high.”

South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj is named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month after enjoying a prolific spell with the ball during their recent ICC World Test Championship series victory over Bangladesh on home soil. The spinner proved a constant threat to the tourists, taking 16 wickets at an average of 12.12, celebrating two seven-wicket hauls in the second innings of both Tests. His wickets were significant catalysts for his side’s 2-0 series triumph, winning comfortably on both occasions – by 220 runs in Durban, and 332 runs in Gqeberha.

In securing this month’s award, Maharaj overcomes fellow nominees in compatriot Simon Harmer – with whom Maharaj shared lengthy spells in tandem on their way to victory – and Jatinder Singh (Oman).

Acknowledging his award, Maharaj responded “I’m honoured and privileged to receive the ICC Player of the Month award for April and I want to thank my teammates for helping me win this award. I’m really happy with how the team has performed this past season and I hope we can build on this to reach greater heights as a unit.”

Speaking about Maharaj’s excellent performances in April, member of the voting panel and ICC Hall of Famer Lisa Sthalekar said, “Keshav was key to South Africa’s success in the series. The amount of wickets he claimed at crucial times was exceptional and his valuable runs were among the main reasons they defeated Bangladesh.”

Fans can continue to vote every month for their favourite male and female cricketers across all formats of international cricket as part of the ICC Player of the Month initiative by registering at www.icc-cricket.com/awards.