Now Reading: Jansen, Hope and Minhas Battle for ICC Player of the Month
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Jansen, Hope and Minhas Battle for ICC Player of the Month
The race for the ICC Player of the Month award for October is on, and it is a cracker. South Africa’s Marco Jansen, West Indies captain Shai Hope and Pakistan’s Arafat Minhas have all made the shortlist. Each delivered match-defining moments, and the margin between them could be razor thin.
Three Stars, Three Different Stages
The ICC honours the best male and female performers every month, and October’s nominees come from three very different contexts. One shone in Test cricket, one tore apart a strong Indian attack, and one lifted a trophy on home soil.
All three produced numbers that make a strong case. The winner may end up only narrowly ahead of the runner-up.
| Player | Team | Standout Series | Key Numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marco Jansen | South Africa | Test series vs Australia | 146 runs, 10 wickets |
| Shai Hope | West Indies | ODI and T20I series vs India | 278 ODI runs at 139; 261 T20I runs |
| Arafat Minhas | Pakistan | Tri-series vs England and Sri Lanka | 6/40; 61 off 31 in the final |
Marco Jansen: The All-Round Difference Maker
Marco Jansen was one of South Africa’s most consistent performers across formats. He was at his best in the three-match Test series against Australia.
His lower-middle-order runs proved match-winning, and he picked up crucial wickets when his side needed them.
Player of the Series and a Ranking Surge
Jansen finished the series with 146 runs and 10 wickets, earning the Player of the Series award. He also climbed to the top of the ICC Test all-rounder rankings, dethroning Ravindra Jadeja.
For a few days he was even the No.1 Test bowler, before Mitchell Starc took over. Few players can claim a spell at the top of both lists.
Shai Hope: Sublime Against the Men in Blue
Shai Hope was in breathtaking form as West Indies took on India in both white-ball formats. The wicket-keeper batter led from the front with a captain’s innings, again and again.
T20I Fireworks
Hope was the leading run-scorer in the T20I series with 261 runs in four innings. That included two hundreds and a fifty, a remarkable return in the shortest format.
ODI Dominance and a Record Chase
In the ODIs, Hope finished as the second-highest run-scorer, right behind Shubman Gill. He made 278 runs at an average of 139, with two hundreds in three innings.
He also helped West Indies chase down their highest-ever total in the third ODI. That is the kind of big-moment impact that voters notice.
| Format | Runs | Innings | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| T20Is vs India | 261 | 4 | Two hundreds, one fifty |
| ODIs vs India | 278 | 3 | Two hundreds, average of 139 |
Arafat Minhas: Pakistan’s New Star
Arafat Minhas announced himself in the recent tri-series at home, which also featured England and Sri Lanka. The all-rounder made an impact with both bat and ball.
Bat and Ball Against England
Against England, Minhas scored 59 runs and then took 6/40 in the same match. Doing both in one game is a rare feat.
Final-Day Heroics
In the final against Sri Lanka, Pakistan were chasing 326. Minhas smashed 61 off just 31 deliveries to help them over the line and win the trophy.
He was named Player of the Series for his consistency. If groomed properly, he looks like one of the most exciting talents in Pakistan’s setup.
Who Takes the Award?
This is a genuinely open contest. Jansen offers Test-match grit and a world number one all-rounder ranking. Hope brings huge hundreds and an eye-catching average against a top side. Minhas delivers a trophy-winning, two-way show.
The decision may come down to whether voters prize format, opposition or sheer match impact. Whoever wins, October belonged to these three.
The award also adds to the buzz around Shubman Gill, who became the first cricketer to win ICC Player of the Month five times. The new nominees now chase their own place in that conversation.
