Nauman Ali nominated for ICC Player of the Month

ISLAMABAD: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the latest nominations for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award, including Pakistan spinner Nauman Ali. Nauman Ali, who previously won the award, has once again been shortlisted for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for January 2025, following his impressive performance against the West Indies in the recent Test series.

The experienced left-arm spinner finds himself in elite company alongside Jomal Warrick (West Indies) and Varun Chakravarthy (India), both of whom delivered match-winning performances for their respective teams.

Nauman was Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker in the two-match Test series against the West Indies, playing a key role in his team’s efforts on spin-friendly surfaces. He made a strong start in the first Test, taking six wickets for 81 runs. However, it was in the second Test that he made history. In a masterclass in spin bowling, Nauman took a hat-trick, becoming the first Pakistani spinner to achieve the feat. He further excelled by taking six wickets in the first innings and four in the second, finishing the match with impressive figures of 10/121.

Throughout the series, Nauman took 16 wickets at an extraordinary average of 12.62, further cementing his reputation as Pakistan’s premier spinner. His ability to dismantle the West Indies batting line-up earned him widespread recognition and a nomination for the ICC Player of the Month award.

Nauman faces stiff competition for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award from Jomal Warricken, the West Indies spinner who played a key role in helping his team draw the series 1-1 against Pakistan. Warrick took 19 wickets in the series, including a match-winning 9/70 in the second Test, and was named player of the series.

Meanwhile, Varun Chakravarthy continued his dominance in T20 cricket, tormenting England’s batsmen with his mysterious spin. The Indian bowler took 12 wickets in four T20 Internationals, including five in Rajkot, while maintaining an impressive average of 9.41.

Pakistani cricketers have often been in the headlines for the ICC Player of the Month award and Nauman Ali’s nomination continues the trend. With his match-winning performances and historic hat-trick, the veteran spinner has a strong case to take home the award.