Dubai, United Arab Emirates cricket captain Muhammad Waseem has been honored as the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for April 2024, marking a historic achievement as the first UAE player to receive this award. Waseem’s exceptional performance, particularly during the ACC Premier Cup, set him apart from competitors like Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi and Namibia’s Gerhard Erasmus.

According to International Cricket Council, Waseem’s standout moments came during the ACC Premier Cup held in Oman, where his leadership and batting prowess were pivotal in UAE’s qualification for next year’s Asia Cup. Waseem expressed his honor in receiving the award and underscored its significance as a source of motivation for players from emerging cricket nations. He highlighted his personal contribution in the final of the tournament, where he scored a century that was crucial in leading UAE to victory.

Since his debut in October 2021, Waseem has become a central figure in UAE’s batting lineup, now holding the record as the third-highest run-getter for UAE in ODIs with 1289 runs and maintaining an impressive strike rate of 91. His T20I record is even more remarkable, with the highest runs for UAE at 1977, averaging nearly 40 and a strike rate of 154.69.

His performance in April, particularly in the ACC Men’s Premier Cup, was outstanding. Despite a first-ball duck in an early match against Kuwait, Waseem rebounded strongly, contributing significant scores in subsequent games and culminating in a match-winning century in the final against Oman, which featured six fours and seven sixes. This performance not only secured the title for UAE but also earned him the Player of the Series award.