Simon Harmer and Shafali Verma Shine In November: South African spinner Simon Harmer has been named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for the first time in his career. He beat strong competition from Bangladesh’s Taijul Islam and Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz to take the honour.
The 36-year-old earned the award after delivering a stunning performance in the two-match ICC World Test Championship series against India. Harmer picked up a combined 17 wickets to help South Africa seal a dominant 2-0 series win, their first Test series victory in India in 25 years.
Match-Winning Spell in Historic Series Win:
Harmer was outstanding throughout the series. In the opening Test in Kolkata, he returned figures of four for 30 and four for 21, putting India under pressure right from the start.
He followed it up with another brilliant display in the second Test in Guwahati, where he took three for 64 in the first innings and an incredible six for 37 in the second. He finished the series with an impressive average of 8.94 and an economy rate of just 1.91.
Harmer Shares Emotional Message After Receiving the Award:
Reacting to the honour, Harmer said, “It’s a privilege to be named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for November.
“Playing for my country is a dream come true and anything else that comes from it as a result is a bonus.
“I share this award with my teammates, coaches and support staff and dedicate it to my family who allow me to go out and live my dream, often having to leave them at home to do so.
“It’s a privilege to be a part of the Proteas team and I hope to enjoy many more successful seasons with this remarkable group of people.”
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Shafali Verma Wins Her First ICC Women’s Player of the Month Award:
On the women’s side, India’s Shafali Verma was named ICC Women’s Player of the Month for November. She beat Thailand’s Thipatcha Putthawong and UAE’s Esha Oza to claim the award for the first time.
The recognition made the moment even more special for Verma, who had been added to India’s Women’s World Cup squad as a late replacement for the injured Pratika Rawal.
A Final to Remember for Shafali Verma:
Verma played a crucial role in the Women’s World Cup Final, scoring a superb 87 off 78 balls. It was the highest score by an Indian opening batter in a Women’s World Cup Final and helped India post a strong total of 298 for seven against South Africa.
She also made a big impact with the ball, taking the key wickets of Suné Luus and Marizanne Kapp. Her all-round performance earned her the Player of the Match award in the final.
Shafali Reflects on a Dream Come True:
Speaking after receiving the award, Verma said, “My first ICC Women’s World Cup experience didn’t go as I expected but it ended far better than I could have ever wished or imagined.
“I’m grateful that I could contribute to the team’s success in the Final and that I was able to be a part of making history in winning the World Cup for the first time and in front of a home crowd.
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“I’m truly honoured to be named the Women’s Player of the Month for November. I dedicate this award to my teammates, coaches, family and everyone who has supported my journey until now. We win and lose as a team, the same goes for this award.”
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