The International Cricket Council has officially announced the nominees for the ICC Player of the Month awards for April 2026, featuring standout performers from Bangladesh, Oman, UAE, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Brazil.
The men’s shortlist includes Bangladesh fast bowler Nahid Rana, Oman skipper Jatinder Singh and UAE left-arm seamer Ajay Kumar.
On the women’s side, South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt, Sri Lanka batter Imesha Dulani and Brazil all-rounder Laura Cardosa earned nominations after impressive international performances.
Nahid Rana’s Pace Dominates New Zealand
Nahid Rana emerged as one of the strongest contenders after his match-winning performances against New Zealand in a home ODI series.
The young Bangladeshi pacer claimed eight wickets across three matches at an economy of just 4.46 and was named Player of the Series. His standout spell came in Mirpur, where he ripped through New Zealand’s batting lineup with figures of 5/32.
Jatinder Singh Shines for Oman
Oman captain Jatinder Singh also made a strong case after piling up 266 ODI runs at a strike rate above 115 during the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 competition in Nepal.
His explosive 139 off 91 balls against Nepal became the highest ODI score ever recorded by an Oman batter.
UAE’s Ajay Kumar Impresses Early
UAE left-arm pacer Ajay Kumar earned recognition following a sensational start to his ODI career during the same League 2 tournament.
The youngster consistently troubled opposition batters with disciplined seam bowling and quickly emerged as one of the tournament’s breakout performers.
Wolvaardt Eyes Another ICC Honour
South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt continues her remarkable run in international cricket after another prolific month with the bat.
Wolvaardt impressed during South Africa’s ODI series against New Zealand and the T20I series versus India, strengthening her reputation as one of the leading batters in women’s cricket.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Imesha Dulani starred during her side’s Bangladesh tour, while Brazil’s Laura Cardosa grabbed global attention after becoming the first cricketer to take nine wickets in a women’s T20I innings.
ICC Voting Process Explained
The ICC Player of the Month awards are decided through a combined voting process involving fans and an independent ICC Voting Academy consisting of former players, broadcasters and journalists. Public votes contribute 10 per cent to the final result.
The winners are expected to be announced later this month.
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