Dubai, April 6 : Babar Azam, Kraigg Brathwaite and Pat Cummins have been shortlisted for the ICC men’s Player of the Month award following their outstanding individual performances in March. In the women’s category, Sophie Ecclestone, Rachael Haynes and Laura Wolvaardt are in the running to scoop the award after their stellar performances in the recently concluded ICC Women’s World Cup. The winners will be announced next week. Pakistan’s skipper Babar played an integral part in his side’s 2-1 ODI series win against Australia, amassing a century and a half-century. In Tests, he scored 390 runs, including a record-breaking 196 in the second Test to salvage a draw. This is the second time Babar has featured on the shortlist for the ICC Player of the Month award, having won in April 2021. Brathwaite, West Indies’ Test captain and opening batter, led from the front during the recently concluded series against England, scoring 341 runs at an average of 85.25. He scored a monumental 160 from 489 balls in the second Test in response to England’s big first innings total. This mammoth innings ensured a drawn second Test and provided the platform for his side to clinch the series by winning the final showdown. Cummins stood out for his bowling performances in unforgiving conditions. He led Australia to victory in Pakistan, playing a pivotal role in clinching the series thanks to a match-winning spell, taking 5 for 56 in the first innings and following up with 3 for 23 in the second innings of the final test. England left-arm spinner Ecclestone’s performances steered her side to the ICC Women’s World Cup final. Her spin bowling caused problems for opposition bowlers, taking 20 wickets at an average of 12.85. Her prowess was capped by a magnificent spell in the victory over South Africa in the semi-final, taking 6 for 36 to ensure a 137-run victory. Scoring 429 runs in the eight matches she played during the month, Haynes was at the forefront of Australia’s unbeaten run through to the World Cup final. Her stellar performances came at crucial times – 130 against England in their opening match and 85 in the semi-final victory over West Indies. Wolvaardt’s endeavours for South Africa were critical to her team reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup. Up to the end of the semi-finals, she was the tournament’s leading run-scorer, amassing 433 runs at an average of 54.12, passing 50 on five occasions and proving a thorn in the side of many opposing teams.