Bangladesh cricketers Taijul Islam and Mushfiqur Rahim have been nominated for the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Men’s Player of the Month award for May following their outstanding performances in Bangladesh’s Test series victory over Pakistan.
The ICC announced the three-player shortlist in a media release, with Bangladesh’s Taijul Islam and Mushfiqur Rahim joined by Nepal captain Dipendra Singh Airee among the nominees. The nominations recognise performances delivered during May, a month in which Bangladesh completed a memorable Test series whitewash against Pakistan.
Bangladesh’s success against Pakistan marked another significant achievement for the national side. The team secured victories in both matches of the two-Test series, completing a clean sweep against an opponent that had historically proven difficult for Bangladesh in the longest format of the game. The series triumph followed Bangladesh’s earlier successes in two One-Day International series during 2026, continuing the team’s strong run of results across formats.
Taijul Islam played a leading role in the series victory with the ball. The left-arm spinner finished as the highest wicket-taker of the contest, claiming 13 wickets across the two Tests. His most notable performance came in the second Test in Sylhet, where he collected six wickets for 120 runs in Pakistan’s second innings. That spell brought Pakistan’s innings to a close and helped Bangladesh secure victory in the match and the series.
The spinner’s consistency throughout the series enabled Bangladesh to maintain pressure on the visiting side. His 13 wickets were the highest by any bowler in the series, underlining his importance to Bangladesh’s success and earning him a place among the ICC’s monthly award nominees.
Mushfiqur Rahim also made a major contribution with the bat. The experienced batter emerged as the leading run-scorer of the series, accumulating 253 runs and receiving the Player of the Series award. Across the two matches, he averaged 63.25 and played a pivotal role in anchoring Bangladesh’s batting performances.
A standout moment for Mushfiqur came during the second innings of the Sylhet Test, where he scored 137 runs. The innings saw him register his 14th Test century, establishing a new Bangladesh record for the most centuries by a Bangladeshi batter in Test cricket. His performances provided stability and experience to the batting line-up and were instrumental in helping Bangladesh build winning positions throughout the series.
The third nominee, Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee, also enjoyed a productive month in international cricket. Airee featured in seven matches during May, including six One-Day Internationals and one Twenty20 International.
Competing in ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 fixtures, the Nepal captain delivered strong all-round performances. He scored 249 runs in six ODIs at an average of 49.80 and a strike rate of 110.66. His batting contributions included a century against the United Arab Emirates. In addition to his success with the bat, Airee claimed eight wickets, making him one of Nepal’s most influential performers during the month.
While individual recognition has come through the ICC nominations, Bangladesh’s success has also continued in limited-overs cricket. In the opening One-Day International against Australia at Mirpur, Bangladesh recorded an 86-run victory under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method after rain interrupted the match. The result handed Bangladesh a 1-0 lead in the series and brought the team closer to securing its first ODI series victory against Australia.
The second ODI is scheduled to be played in Mirpur, with the third and final match set for 14 June. Following the completion of the ODI series, Bangladesh and Australia will travel to Chattogram for a three-match Twenty20 International series. The matches are scheduled for 17, 19 and 21 June at the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium.
The ICC nominations for Taijul Islam and Mushfiqur Rahim reflect the impact both players made during Bangladesh’s successful Test campaign against Pakistan. Their performances not only contributed significantly to the series whitewash but also earned international recognition through inclusion on the ICC’s monthly shortlist.