Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews named ICC Men's Player of the Month

Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews has been voted the ICC Men's Player of the Month for May 2022. Mathews beat fellow countryman Asitha Fernando and Bangladesh's Mushfiqur Rahim in the race for the coveted award.

The former Lankan captain was the highest run-getter in the two-match Test series against Bangladesh in their own backyard, scoring 344 runs, which included back-to-back centuries. He is also the first Sri Lankan player to win this award since its beginning.

Thanks to a magnificent 199 at Chattogram and 145 at Mirpur, Mathews climbed to number 15 in the ICC Rankings for Test batters. 

His contributions with the bat ensured Sri Lanka kept their winning streak in Bangladesh intact, claiming the series 1-0.

Fernando claimed 13 wickets in the series to lower Bangladesh's chances of any comeback in the series. He claimed a six-for in the second innings of the second Test at Dhaka, which helped Sri Lanka win by 10 wickets.

On getting the recognition, Mathews, speaking to the ICC, said: "I am absolutely honoured and delighted to be the ICC Men's Player of the Month. I would like to congratulate Asitha Fernando and Mushfiqur Rahim who were front runners for this award, on their spectacular performances.

I am grateful for the opportunity, and I wish to thank the almighty, my teammates, support staff, and fans for believing in me and supporting me as always. I would like to dedicate this to the people of Sri Lanka. Let's never stop believing."

Former South African player JP Duminy, who is a member of the voting panel, lauded Mathews' batting in the series.

"The great grit and determination that characterized Angelo's performances during the month has shown that he still has the hunger and desire to make the difference at the elite level," Duminy explained.

Pakistan's Tuba Hassan won the ICC Women's Player of the Month title.