Bangladesh stalwart Mushfiqur Rahim has become the first Bangladeshi to be named as the ICC Player of the Month, winning the recognition for May, ICC confirmed Monday.
This award recognises and celebrates the best performances from both male and female cricketers across all forms of international cricket throughout the year. Kathryn Bryce from Scotland won the same award as the woman cricketer.
“Even after 15 years at the highest level, Mushfiqur has not lost his appetite for run-making. He was at his imperious best in the one-day series at home against Sri Lanka, a picture of consistency with the highlight being 125 in the second match which helped his side secure a winning 2-0 lead in the three-match series,” Indian great VVS Laxman, representing the ICC Voting Academy, said in ICC’s press release.
“What made his feat even more notable was that it was Bangladesh’s first-ever ODI series triumph against the 1996 World Cup champions. To shore up the middle order and don the wicket-keeping gloves speaks volumes of his fitness and skills,” he added.
In his reaction after winning the award, Mushfiqur said over a video message: “I would like to thank you all, especially ICC, for honouring me with this award. I would also like to thank those who voted for me. I believe you didn’t only help me to win, but you won it for Bangladesh. I would like to continue playing a good brand of cricket throughout the year.”
In May this year, Mushfiqur played a total of three ODIs and scored 237 runs with one hundred and one fifty.
Mushfqiur, who got inducted into international cricket in 2005, completed 16 years in May this year.
Along with Mushfiqur, Sri Lanka’s Praveen Jayawickrama and Pakistan’s Hasan Ali were also shortlisted for this award. But Mushfqiur got more votes than them to lift the title.
Source: United News of Bangladesh