Mushfiqur Rahim and Lauren Bell have been named the ICC Players of the Month for May after standout international performances for Bangladesh and England.
The ICC confirmed the awards on Monday, 22 June, with former Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur taking the men’s honour and England seam bowler Bell winning the women’s award.
ICC Awards Reward Test Runs And White-Ball Wickets
Mushfiqur beat Bangladesh team-mate Taijul Islam and Nepal all-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee after being named Player of the Series in Bangladesh’s home Test win over Pakistan. The 39-year-old made 235 runs at an average of 63.25, including 71 in Dhaka and 137 in Sylhet, according to the ICC’s official announcement.
Bell edged out Pakistan batter Gull Feroza and New Zealand’s Maddy Green after taking five wickets in three ODIs and eight wickets in four T20Is against India and New Zealand.
The England bowler said she was delighted with the award and pointed to the growing crowds around women’s cricket, with the Women’s T20 World Cup adding extra focus to her form.
For ReadCricket readers, the timing matters because both awards reflect live international trends: Bangladesh’s Test climb underpinned by Mushfiqur’s experience, and England’s white-ball attack gaining momentum through Bell’s new-ball threat.
The awards also arrive during a busy global window, giving both players fresh visibility while international schedules continue to shape selection debates.
