The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced the winners of the ICC Player of the Month awards for March 2023, with Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan scooping the ICC Men’s Player of the Month, and Rwanda’s Henriette Ishimwe named the ICC Women’s Player of the Month.

Read more: Prithvi Shaw’s problems: The court sent a notice to the player on Sapna Gill’s petition

Shakib and Ishimwe clinch ICC Player of the Month

In claiming the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for March, Shakib wins his second Player of the Month crown after first winning back in July 2021. He triumphs following a string of fine displays with bat and ball, cementing his position at the summit of the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings for all-rounders. As well as an impressive series win over Ireland, Shakib was instrumental in securing a historic 3-0 T20I series victory over touring world champions England.

All-rounder Ishimwe started the year at the heart of the Rwandan team that lit up the inaugural ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa. Her breakout tournament included a memorable four wickets in four balls in the win over Zimbabwe, and she carried that form into the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) Women’s T20I Tournament last month. 92 runs and 9 wickets in March, which included another hat trick sees her become only the second female from an Associate Member to win the ICC Player of the Month award.

Read more: Foreign players needs NOC from their respective franchises to play in the national team

ICC Men’s Player of the Month, March 2023 – Shakib Al Hasan

With 12 short-format games throughout the month, Bangladesh had plenty of game time in March. And their formidable short-format maestro Shakib was once again a key contributor to their success against England and Ireland.

Opening the month with an ODI series against England, the all-rounder registered two half-centuries, the second of which came in a familiar scintillating all-round display. A consolation win in Chattogram was inspired by Shakib, first thanks to his 75 in 71 balls and then with the ball as he took four for 35 in ten overs to seal a 50-run win.

In the T20I series that followed, Shakib skippered his side to a decisive 3-0 victory, with valuable runs in the first encounter, and key wickets across all three matches, in a string of impressive team displays characterized by excellent fielding and disciplined bowling.

Shakib added

Reflecting on another ICC Men’s Player of the Month prize, Shakib added, “I am honored to win the award and would like to thank the expert panelists who have voted for me. This is a recognition I greatly value because there are so many special performances in a month from a number of amazing cricketers.

ICC Women’s Player of the Month, March 2023 – Henriette Ishimwe

Ishimwe’s blistering start to 2023 at the U19 Women’s T20 World Cup helped her make a name for herself on the world stage, and a little over two months later, she finds herself in the headlines again after enjoying plenty of success in March’s NCF Women’s T20I Tournament in Lagos.

The 20-year-old was the star player in Rwanda’s opening match against Ghana, firstly coming in at number three and smashing a brisk 32 in 22 balls. Defending a healthy total, Ishimwe and her fellow bowlers then took apart the reply, taking wickets at regular intervals and ending with a flourish, as the pacer took another hattrick to end the game and seal a 117-run victory.

Despite a quieter display with the ball in the next match against Sierra Leone, Ishimwe contributed significantly once more by top scoring at the crease and steering her side home in a five-wicket win.

She saved her most complete performance for the third and final fixture in the calendar month against Cameroon

She saved her most complete performance for the third and final fixture in the calendar month against Cameroon. Coming to the crease early on, Ishimwe starred in a 90-run partnership with her namesake Gisele Ishimwe, and her 43 in 33 balls steered her side to a competitive total. Cameroon faltered in their reply, and Ishimwe took advantage – her full, straight-pace bowling securing a five-wicket haul for 6 runs conceded, cementing her status as an eye-catching prospect in the women’s game.

Reacting to her award win, Ishimwe commented, “I am humbled and honored to win this award for my performances in the last month.