Sri Lankan cricketers Dunith Wellalage and Harshitha Samarawickrama were named ICC Players of the Month for August 2024, marking a rare double victory for Sri Lanka. Wellalage’s outstanding performance in the home ODI series against India and Samarawickrama’s impressive form on the tour of Ireland earned them the prestigious awards.
The only previous instance of players from the same country winning the award in the same month happened in June this year when Jasprit Bumrah and Smriti Mandhana received the honors.
Wellalage clinched the award over other nominees, including South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj and West Indies’ Jayden Seales. His Player of the Series performance was instrumental in Sri Lanka’s 2-0 series victory over India. During the series, Wellalage scored 67 not out, 39, and 2, and took seven wickets, including a five-wicket haul of 5 for 27 in the third ODI.
This recognition makes Wellalage the fifth Sri Lankan player to win the ICC men’s award since its inception. Previous winners include Angelo Mathews (May 2022), Prabath Jayasuriya (July 2022), Wanindu Hasaranga (June 2023), and Kamindu Mendis (March 2024).
Wellalage expressed his gratitude, stating, “This award is a great encouragement and gives me immense satisfaction. Moreover, it motivates me to continue performing well and contributing to my team’s success. Furthermore, recognition from the ICC is a significant boost for young players like us and will undoubtedly inspire others in the game.”
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