Athapaththu wins ICC Women’s Player of Month for May

Chamari Athapaththu has won the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award for a second time, after the Sri Lanka star beat a hot field to claim the coveted award for May 2024.

Athapaththu edged out strong opposition from Scotland Captain Kathryn Bryce and England’s Sophie Ecclestone for the monthly gong, adding the title for May to the monthly award she also won in September last year.

The all-rounder is already established as a modern-day great as Sri Lanka’s highest run-getter in both white-ball formats and the 34-year-old was at her brilliant best during last month’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2024 where she finished the event as the leading run-scorer.

After a relatively indifferent start to the tournament, she came into her own during the business end of the event, smashing a top-notch century in the final to give Sri Lanka the title and help the island nation earn their place at this year’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. In her four games during the month of May, Athapaththu scored 151 runs at an average of 37.75 and was equally as impressive with the ball as she picked up six scalps at merely 9.16 runs per wicket.

Athapaththu was thrilled to have won the award again and the Sri Lanka Captain paid special tribute to both Bryce and Ecclestone for their achievement during the month.

“I am extremely delighted and honoured to once again receive the ICC Women’s Player of the Month Award and wish to mention that continuous recognition at this level keeps me motivated to further up my game and continue the good performance,” she said.

“I wish to mention here that, both Kathryn (Bryce) and Sophie (Ecclestone) are also two exceptionally talented players with a proven record and wish them the very best, whilst I thank my teammates for their support given to me in this endeavour.”