Islamabad: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the nominees for the Women’s Player of the Month for July 2024, featuring three standout openers who have made significant impacts in international women’s cricket. The nominees include Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu, India’s Smriti Mandhana, and India’s Shafali Verma, each bringing a remarkable set of performances to the fore this past month.

According to International Cricket Council, Chamari Athapaththu has been a pivotal figure for Sri Lanka, leading her team to historic victories in the Women’s Asia Cup, including a maiden win over India. Athapaththu’s stellar month included a career-best 119* against Malaysia and crucial innings in the semi-final and final of the tournament, culminating in a total of 304 runs with a strike rate of 146.85. Her all-around performance also featured impactful moments with the ball, securing her a potential third ICC Women’s Player of the Month award.

Smriti Mandhana, another nominee, continued her exceptional form from June into July. She scored a career-high 149 in a Test against South Africa, part of a record-breaking opening partnership. Mandhana’s consistent run-scoring spree included vital knocks in the Asia Cup, contributing significantly to India’s performances with a total of 273 T20I runs at an average of 68.25 for the month.

Shafali Verma, the third nominee, also from India, matched her opening partner with impressive feats, including a rapid double century in the Test against South Africa, marking her as the second Indian woman to achieve such a milestone. Verma’s explosive batting continued in the Asia Cup, where she was the tournament’s second-highest run-getter, amassing 200 runs at a strike rate of 140.84.

These nominations highlight the exceptional talent and contributions of these players to their respective teams and the sport at large, setting the stage for a competitive selection for July’s ICC Women’s Player of the Month.