Wanindu Hasaranga of Sri Lanka finished off a strong month by winning the ICC Men’s Player of the Month honor for June 2023.
Hasaranga won the coveted award over Travis Head of Australia and Sean Williams of Zimbabwe thanks to his outstanding performances for the island nation at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
“This award has made me extremely happy, and it comes at a crucial time for Sri Lanka Cricket after we qualified for the Cricket World Cup in India.” Hasaranga expressed his gratitude and honor at being named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month.
During the month, the all-rounder took 26 wickets at a rate of 10, with the majority of those takedowns assisting Sri Lanka’s qualification for the 50-over World Cup at the end of the year.
Hasaranga, 25, became just the second player in the history of ODI cricket to record three straight five-wicket hauls. He was the top wicket-taker at the Qualifier event.
The legendary Pakistani bowler Waqar Younis accomplished the feat back in 1990, and Hasaranga replicated the feat by adding two five-wicket hauls against Oman and Ireland after posting impressive stats of 6/24 against the UAE.
Hasaranga demonstrated his versatility in all facets of the game by scoring 91 runs with the bat in the month of June as if his efforts with the ball weren’t enough.
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