Pakistan Skipper Babar Azam Wins "ICC Player Of The Month" Award For April 2021

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has won the ICC Player of the Month award for April 2021, the world governing body for cricket announced on its official Twitter account. He was nominated by the International Cricket Council (ICC) committee alongside country mate Fakhar Zaman and Nepal’s Kushal Bhurtel.

In the month of April, Pakistan captain Babar Azam became the No.1 ranked batsman in the ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings, ending India captain Virat Kohli’s long reign at the top of the charts. Azam had a brilliant outing against South Africa during Pakistan’s white-ball tour to the rainbow nation.

His compatriot Fakhar Zaman also produced a stellar showing during the month, scoring two centuries in the ODI series victory over South Africa, including a magnificent 193 in the second match in Johannesburg.

Meanwhile, for the first time, a player from Nepal was nominated for the award as well. Kushal Bhurtel was the leading run-scorer as his team won a tri-series also featuring the Netherlands and Malaysia. His significant contribution with the bat totaled 278 runs, including four half-centuries in five matches.

Babar Azam Wins The ICC Player Of The Month Award

However, it was the stylish batsman and Pakistan captain Babar Azam who beat out his teammate Fakhar Zaman and Nepal’s Kushal Bhurtel and was named the ICC Player of The Month for April 2021.

Babar hit a match-winning 82-ball 94 in the third ODI against South Africa helped him gain 13 rating points to reach a career-best 865 points. He also contributed 122 from 59 balls in Pakistan’s successful chase in the third match of a T20I series against the same opposition.

? Three ODIs, 228 runs at 76.00
? Seven T20Is, 305 runs at 43.57
? Became the No.1 ODI batsman

Well done, @babarazam258 for winning the ICC Men's Player of the Month for April ?#ICCPOTM pic.twitter.com/CuCaodFEk7

— ICC (@ICC) May 10, 2021

He is currently ranked 9^th in Test batting rankings, no.1 in ODI batting rankings, and 3^rd in the T20I batting rankings.

Alyssa Healy Named The ICC Women’s Player Of The Month For April 2021

Australia women’s team wicketkeeper-batsman Alyssa Healy was named the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for April 2021. Thanks to her consistency both with the bat and behind the stumps with the gloves, the Australian women’s team has continuously dominated the cricket scene.

Healy played three ODIs versus New Zealand, scoring 155 runs at an average of 51.66 and a strike rate of 98.72. Her efforts saw her finish as the leading run-scorer in Australia’s series victory over New Zealand that extended their record winning streak to 24 ODIs.

Babar Azam and Alyssa Healy voted ICC Players of the Month for April 2021

Details ??https://t.co/elGX9yCA8J@babarazam258 @ahealy77

— ICC Media (@ICCMediaComms) May 10, 2021

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