Athapaththu crowned ICC Player of the Month for July

The International Cricket Council (ICC) yesterday revealed the ICC Players of the Month for July 2024 as England’s Gus Atkinson and Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu.

Atkinson enjoyed a fruitful start to his international career in the longest format, spearheading England’s bowling attack as they swept the West Indies in their ICC World Test Championship series on home soil last month.

Athapaththu was once again an integral figure to Sri Lanka’s success in July, leading from the front with dominant batting displays as her side produced a historic title-winning campaign in the Women’s Asia Cup.

Athapaththu has celebrated many personal accolades recently, and in July, added team silverware to her growing list of honours as Sri Lanka overcame India to win their first Women’s Asia Cup crown. The skipper hit 304 runs during the competition at an average of 101.33 and a staggering strike rate of 146.85. Among the highlights from her stellar month was an explosive unbeaten 119 in against Malaysia and two crucial half-century scores in the latter stages; the first coming as Sri Lanka edged past Pakistan in a tense semi-final victory.

She saved her most important contribution for the final, where, alongside Harshitha Samarawickrama, she hit 61 to help Sri Lanka recover from a slow start to chase down 166 and seal a historic victory in Dambulla and cue memorable celebrations.

The award sees Athapaththu become only the third player to win the Women’s Player of the Month honour on three separate occasions, emulating Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner and the West Indies’ Hayley Matthews.

Athapaththu expressed her delight by saying: “I am happy and honoured to have been chosen as the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for the third time, and it is heartening to see such acknowledgement for my efforts, achieved with the support of my teammates and coaches, being continuously recognised by the cricketing world.”

“I believe these recognitions will send a positive message to thousands of girls who are already playing cricket in my country and also elsewhere and want to play for their country; that commitment and dedication for the game will one day pay off.”

Athapaththu won from India’s opening pair Shafali Verma and June’s winner, Smriti Mandhana.