Dubai, Aug 12: Sri Lanka women's team captain Chamari Athapaththu beat Indian openers duo of Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana to win the International Cricket Council (ICC) Player of the Month for July 2024. England pace bowler Gus Atkinson was adjudged as the ICC Player of July 2024 among men.
The Sri Lankan skipper Athapaththu once again was an integral figure to Sri Lanka’s success in July, leading from the front with dominant batting displays as her side produced a historic title-winning campaign in the Women’s Asia Cup.
Athapaththu hit 304 runs during the competition at an average of 101.33 and at a staggering strike rate of 146.85. She scored an explosive unbeaten 119 in against Malaysia and two crucial half-century scores in the latter stages, an ICC communiqué revealed today.
Similarly, English pacer Atkinson enjoyed a fruitful start to his international career in the longest format, spearheading England’s bowling attack as they swept the West Indies in their ICC World Test Championship series on home soil last month. With Atkinson's fiery spells England secured the 3-0 series win.
Atkinson got 22 wickets during the series at an average of 16.22 as he took home the Player of the Series prize. He also became the first English winner of the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award since Chris Woakes won in July 2023, the ICC communiqué added.
