The International Cricket Council has announced the three nominees for the Men's Player of the Month award for October 2026, with Pakistan's Arafat Minhas earning a spot alongside South Africa's Marco Jansen and West Indies' Shai Hope.
Minhas was instrumental in Pakistan's victory during their home ODI tri-series, where he claimed the Player of the Series award. The all-rounder accumulated 149 runs at a strike rate of 119.20 and took nine wickets throughout the tournament.
His standout display came against England, where he scored 59 runs and recorded figures of 6/40. This performance marked the second-best bowling figures by a Pakistani player in an ODI on home soil.
In the final against Sri Lanka, Minhas played a decisive role, striking 61 off just 31 deliveries to help his side successfully chase down a target of 326. His aggressive batting ensured Pakistan lifted the trophy in front of home supporters.
South Africa's Marco Jansen was nominated following his series-defining contributions against Australia in the ICC World Test Championship. Jansen scored 85 and took six wickets in the second Test, later rising to the top of the ICC Men's Test All-Rounder Rankings.
West Indies batter Shai Hope rounds out the nominees after a prolific month against India. Hope scored an unbeaten 162 in an ODI run chase and registered two centuries during the five-match T20I series, maintaining a strike rate of 190.51.
The nomination of Minhas highlights the growing depth of talent in the Pakistan squad as they continue to compete at the highest level of international cricket. His ability to contribute significantly with both bat and ball remains vital for Pakistan's success in limited-overs formats.
Fans can now cast their votes for the winner on the official ICC website. The recipient of the award will be determined by a combination of public voting and the deliberations of the ICC voting academy.
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