Arafat Minhas Earns ICC Player of the Month Nod
Pakistan all-rounder Arafat Minhas has been shortlisted for the ICC Player of the Month award for October, the ICC announced on Thursday. The 21-year-old earned the nomination after a starring all-round show in Pakistan’s home one-day tri-series, where he was named Player of the Series.
Minhas is one of three men on the shortlist, alongside South Africa all-rounder Marco Jansen and West Indies captain Shai Hope. India all-rounder Deepti Sharma, Bangladesh batter Sobhana Mostary and Australia all-rounder Annabel Sutherland are in the running for the women’s award. Geo Super reported the nomination after the ICC revealed the nominees on 5 November.
Minhas starred in Pakistan’s tri-series win
Minhas finished the tri-series against Sri Lanka and England with 149 runs at a strike rate of 119.20 and nine wickets at an economy rate of 5.13. In the final, he smashed 61 off 31 balls as Pakistan chased down 326 against Sri Lanka at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on 31 October to lift the trophy.
Feature Pakistan reported on Pakistan’s tri-series final win over Sri Lanka in October. Minhas, a left-arm spinning all-rounder, made his one-day debut against Australia earlier this year.
The ICC’s rankings update of 28 October moved him up 15 places to 68th among one-day bowlers.
The England match made his case
The performance that put Minhas on the shortlist came against England in Rawalpindi on 20 October. He scored 59 off 58 balls, his first one-day half-century, and then took six wickets for 40 runs as Pakistan won by 87 runs. Pakistan posted 302 for nine and bowled England out for 215.
His figures of six for 40 were the second-best by a Pakistan bowler in a home one-day international, behind Shoaib Akhtar’s six for 16 against New Zealand in Karachi in 2002.
ICC Player of the Month: how the winner is picked
The award covers performances from the whole of each calendar month. An independent ICC Voting Academy and fans vote on the three-name shortlist, with the academy holding a 90 per cent share of the vote and fans accounting for the remaining 10 per cent. Fans can vote at icc-cricket.com/awards; winners are announced in the second week of the month.
Pakistan’s members of the voting academy are journalist Sohail Imran and former captain Sana Mir.
Jansen and Hope complete the shortlist
Jansen, 26, scored 198 runs and took 13 wickets during October. His 85 and five for 33 in the second Test against Australia at Gqeberha carried South Africa to an innings win and took him to the top of both the Test bowling and all-rounder rankings.
Hope struck three unbeaten centuries, including a match-winning 162 not out in the final one-day international against India. He then scored 261 runs at a strike rate of 190.51 in five Twenty20 internationals, with 102 not out in Ranchi and Hyderabad.
Women’s shortlist led by Deepti Sharma
Sharma is in contention for a second women’s award after 106 not out and five wickets in India’s 3-0 home one-day series win over Zimbabwe.
Sobhana earned her place with 118 off 134 balls against Australia in Brisbane, the highest by a Bangladesh woman against Australia. Sutherland helped Australia to a 3-0 one-day series win over Bangladesh with 99 runs and six wickets.
What it means for Pakistan
For Pakistan, the nomination recognises a young player who has forced his way into the side in his first year of one-day cricket. Minhas offers balance as a left-arm spinner who bats in the middle order.
Pakistan’s next assignment is a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, starting in Rawalpindi on 9 November, where tickets start at Rs200. The board is also in talks over a New Zealand tour in February-March 2027, so strong white-ball form gives Minhas a case for a longer run across formats.
Frequently asked questions
Who is nominated for the ICC Player of the Month award for October?
Marco Jansen, Arafat Minhas and Shai Hope for the men’s award; Deepti Sharma, Sobhana Mostary and Annabel Sutherland for the women’s award.
Why was Arafat Minhas nominated?
Minhas was named Player of the Series in Pakistan’s home tri-series against Sri Lanka and England, scoring 149 runs and taking nine wickets, including 59 and six for 40 against England and 61 off 31 in the final.
How is the ICC Player of the Month winner decided?
An independent ICC Voting Academy holds a 90 per cent share of the vote, while fans registered with the ICC hold the remaining 10 per cent. Winners are announced every second week of the month.
When will the October winners be announced?
The ICC will announce the October winners in the second week of November 2026.
