For August Dunith Wellalage, Harshitha Samarawickrama Crowned ICC Players Of The Month
On Monday the players of Sri Lanka Dunith Wellalage and Harshitha Samarawickrama were named as the ICC Players of the Month for August 2024. The rare double for Sri Lanka comes after Wellalage excelled in a home ODI series against India and Samarawickrama hit a purple patch on a tour of Ireland. The only previous instance of players from the same country winning the awards in the same month was when JaspritBumrah and SmritiMandhana were named the Players of the Month in June this year.
Ahead of South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj and West Indies fast bowler Jayden Seales, who were the others shortlisted Wellalage won the coveted monthly award.
After a Player of the Series performance Wellalage won the award that helped his side to a 2-0 series win over India. The 31-year-old left-hander had scores of 67 not out, 39 and two, while also picking up seven wickets in the series including a haul of five for 27 in the third match.
This is the fifth time that a Sri Lanka player has won the men’s award since its inception. The previous winners being Angelo Mathews (May 2022), PrabathJayasuriya (July 2022), WaninduHasaranga (June 2023) and KaminduMendis (March 2024).