ICC Player of the Month awards introduction was announced today by theInternational Cricket Council (ICC).

It will acknowledge and commemorate best performances of both male andfemale cricket players across all platforms of international cricket allyear round.

A team will be formed of independent ICC Voting Academy consisting offormer players, broadcasters and journalists from around the globe. Theywill team up with fans to vote for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month andICC Women’s Player of the Month.

The first player of the month awards became a highly competitive affair asthere have been remarkable performances during the month of January.

From performances from youngsters such as Mohammed Siraj (IN), WashingtonSundar (IN), T. Natarajan (IN), Rishabh Pant (IN), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (AFG)to established players such as Ravichandran Ashwin (IN), Joe Root (ENG),Steve Smith (AUS), Marizanne Kapp (SA), Nadine de Klerk (SA), Nida Dar(PAK), there will be no shortage of contestants for the month of January.