The International Cricket Council (ICC) has named Bangladesh’s rising fast-bowling star Naheed Rana as the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for April 2026.
The young pacer earned the award after delivering outstanding performances in the ODI series against the New Zealand national cricket team, where he picked up eight wickets in three matches against the Black Caps.
Rana continued his impressive form after also claiming eight wickets in the three-match ODI series against the Pakistan national cricket team in March, further establishing himself as one of Bangladesh’s emerging pace sensations on the international stage.
The fast bowler has become the first Bangladeshi player to win the ICC Player of the Month award.
Speaking about the achievement, Rana said it was a great feeling to receive the award after performing well against a strong team like New Zealand.
He also expressed gratitude to his teammates for their continuous support and trust in him, adding that he hopes to contribute to many more victories and memorable moments for his team.
It is worth noting that Naheed Rana represented Peshawar Zalmi in PSL Season 11 and was part of the title-winning squad.
ICC unveils latest test player rankings
In the current week, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has also unveiled the latest Test player rankings, and notably, no Pakistani batter has secured a place in the top 10.
In a major boost for Bangladesh cricket, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto jumped 16 spots to claim 23rd position in the batting rankings, where he now shares the spot with Pakistan star Babar Azam.
The updated rankings reflect significant movement among Asian players following recent Test performances. Saud Shakeel has dropped six places to 15th in the batting rankings. Meanwhile, Azan Awais and Abdullah Shafique have entered the Test rankings for the first time following impressive performances on debut.
Abdullah Shafique is ranked 75th, while Azan Awais is in 82nd position. Among bowlers, Pakistan opener-turned-spinner Noman Ali has slipped three places to fifth position. Bangladeshi spinner Taijul Islam has moved up three spots to 13th, while Nahid Rana has climbed five places to 64th.
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