Sports Desk
Published:12 Aug 2021, 08:16 AM
Shakib voted ICC player for July
Bangladesh ace all-rounder Shakib al Hasan has been voted the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for July 2021 for his stellar performance across all three formats of international cricket.
Shakib’s contributions helped Bangladesh win the series against Zimbabwe last month. He scored 96 unbeaten runs as Bangladesh defeated Zimbabwe by three wickets in the second ODI at the Harare Sports Club. In the three-match T20I series with the ball Shakib took three wickets at an economy rate of seven leading his country win the series against hosts Zimbabwe. The Bangladesh star cricketer is also the top Men’s all-rounder in the MRF ICC Men’s T20 Rankings and is placed at number five in Test rankings as an all-rounder. “It is very humbling to be voted ICC Men’s Player of the Month for July 2021. There have been many outstanding performances during the month and that is why this is special for me. I find most pleasure and satisfaction when I contribute to wins and therefore, I am very happy to have helped in Bangladesh’s successes over the last few weeks,” said Shakib Al Hasan reacting to his award.
Bangladesh in the almost month long tour of Zimbabwe in July won the lone Test, the ODI series by 3-0 and the T20I series by 2-1. The team continued with their winning form securing a 4-1 victory in the five-match T20I series at home against Australia this month. Wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim was the first Bangladesh cricket to grab the ICC award for the month of May 2021. On the other hand, all-rounder and captain of the West Indies women squad Stafanie Taylor was deservingly voted the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for July 2021. Taylor contributed with both bat and ball as she led her team to win the ODI and T20I series against Pakistan in July. In the four ODIs against Pakistan, Stafanie scored 175 runs with a strike rate of 79.18 and took three wickets with an economy rate of 3.72. Stafanie was also on top of the rankings for batters and all-rounder in the MRF ICC Women’s ODI Rankings earlier in July.
Back to the top
Bangladesh cricketer Shakib Al Hasan has regained the top spot among all-rounders in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings having last reached that position last in October 2017. The left-arm all-rounder has also gained three slots to reach 53rd among batters and advanced six slots to reach 12th position among bowlers. Shakib also holds the top place as one-day international all-rounder and is placed at number five in Test cricket in the world ranking. Left-arm fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman is back in the top 10, gaining 20 slots after taking five wickets while Mohammad Saifuddin (up 26 places to 43rd) and Nasum Ahmed (up 103 places to 66th) are among the others to make headway.
Bangladesh T20I captain Mahmudullah has gained two slots and is now in 33rd position. Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has gained four slots to reach 21st position among batters after aggregating 111 runs in the last four matches of the five-match series in Bangladesh, played over the last week. Left-arm spinner Ashton Agar has gained one slot to reach seventh place among bowlers while fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is up 43 places to 34th position.