It is another moment of global recognition for West Indies captain Hayley Matthews, who has been shortlisted for the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award for April, following her dominant all-round displays during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifier in Pakistan.
Matthews is joined by Pakistan’s Fatima Sana and Scotland’s Kathryn Bryce, as all three nominees made significant impacts for their teams in a tightly contested qualifying tournament. For Matthews, the nomination represents a chance at her fourth ICC Player of the Month crown to further solidify her status as one of the top performers in the women’s game.
The 27-year-old all-rounder was a standout for the Caribbean side, as she led both with bat and ball in what turned out to be a heart-wrenching campaign for West Indies, who narrowly missed out on World Cup qualification. She kicked off the Qualifier with a stunning unbeaten 114 and four for 56 in a losing effort against Scotland and went on to top the tournament wicket charts with 13 scalps at 15.84.
Matthews’ finest hour came in the must-win final match against Thailand, where she blazed a 29-ball 70 in an attempt to chase down a target that would secure qualification based on net run rate. However, the islanders fell just short, but Matthews’ explosive contribution left an indelible mark.
Also in the frame is Fatima Sana, the inspirational leader of a Pakistan side that went unbeaten en route to qualification. The 23-year-old all-rounder took 12 wickets at 12.25, including standout hauls against Scotland, West Indies, and Thailand. Her lower-order runs and consistent breakthroughs with the ball have earned her a maiden nomination for the monthly award.
Kathryn Bryce, Scotland’s captain and talisman, rounds out the shortlist. Bryce ended the tournament as the leading run-scorer, as she amassed 293 runs at an average of 73.25, including a magnificent 131 not out against Ireland. She also chipped in with six wickets, and her efforts saw her named Player of the Series, even though Scotland missed out on a World Cup berth.
In the men’s category, Bangladesh all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani, and New Zealand’s rising fast bowler Ben Sears have been nominated following standout performances in international series.