Pakistan Great Nominated for ICC Player of the Month for May

image-lik4m2f0Babar Azam recently crossed 5,000 ODI runs [Source: Twitter]

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday, announced their nominees for Men's Player of the Month for May 2023, which include Pakistan's Babar Azam, Bangladesh's Najmul Hossain Shanto and Ireland's Harry Tector, all of whom enjoyed scoring runs in the last month for their respective sides.

Babar Azam (Pakistan)

Pakistan's skipper Azam amassed runs at home against New Zealand in the five-match One-Day Internationals (ODI) series. Azam also starred as a leader, captaining Pakistan to a massive 4-1 series win against a second-string Kiwi side.

The 28-year-old scored 54 in the third match, and followed it up by registering his 18th ODI century in the fourth, to take his side to a 4-0 lead

Najmul Hossain Shanto (Bangladesh)​

Shanto has been Bangladesh's most prolific scorer in the recent past. In May, too, Shanto stockpiled runs against Ireland in ODIs in England. Shanto amassed 196 runs across three matches, which includes a scintillating hundred.

The 24-year-old scored his maiden ODI ton in the second match laced with 12 fours and three sixes, and helped his side take a 1-0 lead. 

Shanto showed all-round show in the final ODI, scoring a quick-fire 35 and claiming 1 wicket in Bangladesh's five-run win over Ireland, and winning the Player of the Series award as well. 

Harry Tector (Ireland)

One of Ireland's most promising batters, Harry Tector continued his good form in May. In the second ODI against Bangladesh, Tector struck a belligerent hundred in 113 balls, which included seven fours and 10 sixes, digging his team out a hole. 

In the third ODI as well, the 23-year-old slammed 45 off 48, as Ireland went down fightingly by just five runs, chasing 274.

Tector finished the ODI series as the leading run-getter with 206 runs.