ICC Men’s Player of the Month nominees for May revealed
A pair of Bangladesh stars and a dynamic Nepal all-rounder are in contention for ICC Men’s Player of the Month for May 2026 honours after they enjoyed a memorable month with bat and ball.
Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh)
Veteran batter Mushfiqur Rahim played a pivotal role as Bangladesh secured a thumping 2-0 Test series sweep over Pakistan in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 25-27 cycle.
The experienced right-hander led from the front with 253 runs across two Tests at an average of 63.25.
Mushfiqur set the tone with a crucial 71 in the first innings of the opening Test before delivering his defining performance of the series in Sylhet, where he compiled a magnificent 137 in the second innings of the second Test.
His valuable runs and presence on the field earned him the Player of the Series award as Bangladesh completed a memorable second-straight Test series sweep against Pakistan.
Taijul Islam (Bangladesh)
Joining his teammate on the shortlist is left-arm spinner Taijul Islam, who spearheaded Bangladesh’s bowling attack throughout the victorious series against Pakistan.
Taijul finished as the leading wicket-taker across the two-Test contest, claiming 13 wickets at an average of 19.61. His standout effort came in the second Test at Sylhet, where he produced a marathon 34.2-over spell to return figures of 6/120 in Pakistan’s second innings.
The spinner also contributed useful lower-order runs, scoring 58 runs during the series as Bangladesh sealed a landmark clean sweep.
Dipendra Singh Airee (Nepal)
Nepal’s star all-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee earns a nomination after an exceptional month in Nepal’s ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 campaign.
Airee amassed 249 runs in six ODIs at an average of 49.80 and a strike rate of 110.66, highlighted by a century against the United Arab Emirates and two additional half-centuries. His impact extended beyond the bat, with the all-rounder collecting eight wickets at an average of 19.12 and an economy rate of 4.52.
Among his standout performances was a superb spell of 4/24 against the United States, underlining his value as one of Nepal’s most influential match-winners.
