Rishabh Pant voted inaugural ICC Player of the Month for January
Proteas star Shabnim Ismail voted ICC Women's Player of the Month
Dubai, Feb 8: India's flamboyant wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant on Monday won the ICC's inaugural Player of the Month award for his superlative performances in the two Tests against Australia in January.
Pant scored a 97 at Sydney and an unbeaten 89 at Brisbane that powered India to an incredible series win against arch-rivals Australia Down Under.
Commenting on winning the inaugural award, a delighted Pant said in an ICC release: "For any sportsperson, contributing to a team win is the ultimate reward but such initiatives help motivate youngsters such as myself to do better each time.
"I dedicate this award to every member of Team India that contributed to our victory in Australia and also thank all my fans who voted for me."
Pant blazed his way to a breathtaking 91 on the third day of the ongoing first Test between India and England in Chennai.
Speaking about Pant winning the award, former Pakistan skipper Ramiz Raja, representing the ICC Voting Academy, said: "Both times Pant played under pressure in two different sets of challenges: to draw a game and to win a game. He showed his versatility of skills in both knocks, the clincher being his temperament."
South Africa's Shabnim Ismail was named the ICC Women's Player of the Month following her performances across three ODIs and two T20Is during the month.
Ismail took seven wickets in the victorious ODI series against Pakistan, before taking five wickets in the second T20 International against the same opposition.
According to a release issued by the game's governing body, the three nominees for each of the categories were short-listed based on on-field performances and overall achievements during the period of that month (the first to the last day of each calendar month).
The short-list was then voted on by the independent ICC Voting Academy and fans around the world.
The ICC Voting Academy comprises prominent members of the cricket fraternity including senior journalists, former players, and broadcasters and some members of the ICC Hall of Fame.
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Expertise Group CEO Ashif Karnire meets PM Modi in Saudi Arabia
Jeddah: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, made an important visit to Saudi Arabia, reaffirming the strong bonds between the two nations. As part of his diplomatic outreach, PM Modi engaged with prominent Indian business leaders based in the Kingdom, acknowledging their pivotal role in fostering economic growth and bilateral cooperation.
Among the key participants at the high-level meeting were Ashif Karnire, Chief Executive Officer of Expertise Group, and Anshif Karnire, Chief Strategy Officer, who met Prime Minister Modi during his visit. Their presence underscored the dynamic entrepreneurial contributions of the Indian diaspora to Saudi Arabia’s evolving economic landscape.
Other notable Indian business leaders in attendance included Yusuf Ali, Managing Director of Lulu Hypermarket, and Alisha Moopen, Group CEO of Aster Healthcare both represent influential enterprises that have played integral roles in the Kingdom's development across retail and healthcare sectors.
During the discussions, the leaders explored the significant contributions of the Indian community to Saudi Arabia, acknowledging their influential roles in the local economy.
