Published: Sep 16, 2024, 03:47 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 16, 2024, 04:58 PM (IST)
The ICC athletes of the Month for August 2024 were announced on Monday and include athletes Dunith Wellalage and Harshitha Samarawickrama from Sri Lanka.
Following stellar performances by Wellalage in a home ODI series against India and a strong showing by Samarawickrama on a tour of Ireland, Sri Lanka achieved the unusual double.
When Jasprit Bumrah and Smriti Mandhana were named the Players of the Month in June of this year, it was the only other time that players from the same nation had won the accolades in the same month.
Wellalage was the winner of the coveted monthly award, beating out the other shortlisted players, Jayden Seales, a fast bowler from the West Indies, and spinner Keshav Maharaj of South Africa.
Following a Player of the Series effort that led his team to a 2-0 series victory over India, Wellalage was named the winner. Along with scoring 67 not out, 39, and 2, the 31-year-old left-hander claimed seven wickets throughout the series, including five for 27 in the third game.
Since the competition’s beginning, a player from Sri Lanka has won the men’s title five times. Previous champions were Kamindu Mendis (March 2024), Wanindu Hasaranga (June 2023) Angelo Mathews (May 2022), and Prabath Jayasuriya (July 2022).
According to Wellalage, receiving the prize is really motivating. “This is great news for me and brings immense satisfaction, as this recognition gives me further strength to continue doing the good work I do as a player and contribute to my team to reach excellence in the field,” Wellalage stated.
“Recognition such as this, coming from the ICC, is great news for young players like us and will certainly encourage young players in the game.”
Samarawickrama, who defeated Orla Prendergast and Gaby Lewis of Ireland, had a fantastic run during her trip to that country, making history as the third Sri Lankan women cricket player to get a century in one-day internationals.
In the two Twenty20 Internationals held in Dublin, the 26-year-old left-hander amassed 151 runs at a strike rate of 169.66. In the first match, he scored a game-winning 86 off 45 balls. She knocked 105 in the second match and amassed 172 with a strike rate of 82.69 in three ODIs in Belfast.
Samarawickrama is the ICC Women’s Player of the Month winner, becoming her the only player from Sri Lanka to do it. This year, in May and July, Captain Chamari Athapaththu has won the prize twice.
Since this accolade was given less than three weeks prior to the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup, Samarawickrama thought it was extremely significant. “I am overjoyed to have received this recognition, which I view as a new professional high. It definitely boosts my confidence in front of the Women’s T20 World Cup, which is a significant competition.”
