Pakistan spin maestro secures ICC Player of the Month award for October 2024

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has awarded New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr and Pakistan’s Noman Ali, ICC Players of the Month for October 2024. 

Amelia Kerr, the all-rounder from New Zealand, played a vital role in her team’s journey to victory at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE. Her impressive performances with both bat and ball made her a standout player in the tournament. Noman Ali was just as essential to Pakistan’s success, leading their comeback in a Test series win against England on home ground.

The winners were selected through a voting process that included fans worldwide and a panel of experts, which featured ICC Hall of Famers, former international players, and media representatives.

Kerr faced stiff competition from Deandra Dottin and Laura Wolvaardt, both key players in the Women’s T20 World Cup, to win the award. Noman, on the other hand, edged out strong contenders in the men’s category, such as South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada and New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner, who were also top wicket-takers in recent World Test Championship matches.

With a total of 160 runs and 19 wickets in October, including a record-setting 15 wickets at the T20 World Cup, Kerr’s performances reached new heights. Her all-round contributions, particularly against top teams like Australia, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies, helped her secure the Player of the Tournament title and leave a mark on New Zealand’s cricket history.

Kerr’s standout moments included 29 runs and four wickets against Australia, 34 runs and two wickets versus Sri Lanka, and brilliant bowling figures of three for 14 against Pakistan. In the semi-final, she was crucial with a two-for-14 spell that led to a victory over the West Indies.