KEY POINTS
- Three of the Men’s T20 World Cup’s finest performers are now vying for the prestigious monthly honour.
- Fatima Sana, Harshitha Samarawickrama, and Arundhati Reddy up for women’s award.
ISLAMABAD: International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the shortlist for the Men’s Player of the Month award for February 2026, with the nominees reflecting the standout individual performances from the recently concluded ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Pakistan’s history-making opener Sahibzada Farhan headlines the list after a phenomenal campaign with the bat. He is joined by England’s dynamic all-rounder Will Jacks and the USA’s lethal pace bowler, Shadley van Schalkwyk, both of whom also delivered tournament-defining displays on the global stage.
Top performers from the #T20WorldCup 2026 take on each other for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month honours for February 🏅
More 👉 https://t.co/u1qrmddNsX pic.twitter.com/EiWrNTWXel
— ICC (@ICC) March 16, 2026
Sahibzada Farhan: A record-breaking run machine
Sahibzada Farhan engraved his name into the cricketing record books during the T20 World Cup, finishing as the tournament’s leading run-scorer. The right-handed opener amassed a colossal 383 runs throughout the competition, setting a new benchmark for the most runs in a single edition of the Men’s T20 World Cup.
In doing so, Farhan surpassed the previous record of 319 runs, set by India’s Virat Kohli back in 2014. His extraordinary run came at a staggering average of 76.60 and a strike rate of 160.25, underscoring his dominance at the top of the order.
Farhan’s aggressive batting was highlighted by two spectacular centuries against Namibia and Sri Lanka, making him the first player in history to score two hundreds in a single Men’s T20 World Cup. His prolific form was the driving force behind Pakistan’s journey to the Super 8 stage, where they narrowly missed out on a semi-final berth.
Will Jacks: The game-changing all-rounder
England’s Will Jacks provided the perfect template for a modern T20 all-rounder, playing an indispensable role in his team’s run to the semi-finals. Jacks contributed significantly in all facets of the game, scoring 194 vital runs at a blistering strike rate of 173.21 and chipping in with 11 crucial wickets.
His ability to perform under pressure was unparalleled during the tournament, earning him a record four Player of the Match awards—the most by any player in a single Men’s T20 World Cup. Jacks reserved his best performances for the high-stakes Super 8 encounters against Sri Lanka and New Zealand, instrumental performances that propelled England to the top of their group.
Shadley van Schalkwyk: The USA’s pace sensation
Rounding out the men’s nominees is USA’s Shadley van Schalkwyk, who emerged as one of the most potent fast bowlers in the tournament. The right-arm quick was a constant threat, finishing as one of the leading wicket-takers with 13 scalps to his name.
Van Schalkwyk made an immediate statement in the USA’s opening match, dismantling the Indian top order with a devastating spell of 4/25. He proved his performance was no fluke by replicating the exact same figures of 4/25 against a formidable Pakistan line-up later in the group stage. Beyond his wicket-taking prowess, he maintained a remarkably economical rate of 7.76 runs per over, keeping the brakes on scoring even in the powerplay.
Sana, Samarawickrama, and Reddy Vye for Women’s Monthly Honour
On the women’s side, the ICC has also unveiled a competitive shortlist for the Women’s Player of the Month award for February 2026, featuring three players who led their teams with distinction in high-profile series.
Pakistan captain Fatima Sana is in contention following a series of valiant all-round performances against South Africa. Sri Lanka’s consistent top-order batter Harshitha Samarawickrama earns her place after guiding her team to a series victory in the Caribbean, while India’s Arundhati Reddy is recognized for her match-winning heroics with the ball in Australia.
Three standout performers feature among the ICC Women’s Player of the Month nominees for February 2026 🎖️
More 👉https://t.co/8ZYaoXaw9Q pic.twitter.com/KUs7ehjHkK
— ICC (@ICC) March 16, 2026
Fatima Sana: Leading from the front in defeat
Despite Pakistan’s narrow 2-1 losses in both the ODI and T20I series against South Africa, captain Fatima Sana was a standout performer. She was particularly devastating in the T20I leg, finishing as the leading run-scorer in the format with 146 runs at an astonishing average of 73.00 and a strike rate of 184.81.
Her tour de force was a breathtaking 90 in the first T20I, followed by a Player of the Match-winning performance in the third match, where she scored an unbeaten 47 and returned figures of 2/12. Sana also contributed significantly in the ODIs, notching a crucial half-century in the second match. Across the entire tour, she claimed four wickets in the 50-over games and two in the T20Is.
Harshitha Samarawickrama: The architect of a series win
Sri Lanka’s Harshitha Samarawickrama was the rock upon which her team’s successful ODI campaign in the West Indies was built. The left-handed batter was the leading run-scorer in the series, which Sri Lanka won 2-1, accumulating 171 runs at a consistent average of 57.00.
Facing challenging Caribbean conditions, Samarawickrama displayed remarkable composure, anchoring the innings with scores of 66, 35, and an unbeaten 70. Her pivotal contributions were crucial in securing the series victory and rightfully earned her the Player of the Series award.
Arundhati Reddy: The architect of india’s historic triumph
Arundhati Reddy was the spearhead of the Indian bowling attack during their historic T20I series triumph in Australia. The right-arm seamer was the leading wicket-taker in the series, claiming eight wickets at an exceptional average of just 10.87.
Reddy’s precision and control kept the powerful Australian batting line-up in check, as evidenced by her miserly economy rate of 7.25. She delivered match-defining spells in every single game, with figures of 4/22, 2/30, and 2/35, consistently breaking crucial partnerships and applying pressure. Her knack for taking key wickets was a decisive factor in India’s memorable 2-1 series victory.
