Henriette Ishimwe starred for Rwanda at the Nigeria Cricket Federation’s Women’s T20I Tournament and been nominated for the ICC women's player of the month for March ©Getty Images

Rwanda’s Henriette Ishimwe and Papua New Guinea pair Sibona Jimmy and Ravini Oa are in the running for the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) women’s player of the month award for March.

The ICC has announced Ishimwe, Jimmy and Oa as the three nominees for the prestigious prize in recognition for their superb performances last month.

Ishimwe made her international debut at the age of 15 and has become one of the team’s most reliable all-rounders.

The 19-year-old excelled in last month’s Nigeria Cricket Federation’s Women’s T20I Tournament where she took four wickets against Ghana and five versus Cameroon as well as notching 32 and 43 runs with the bat against the same teams.


Papua New Guinea's Ravini Oa is among those shortlisted for the ICC women's player of the month after a notable bowling performance at the Pacific Island Women’s Cricket Challenge ©ICC
Papua New Guinea's Ravini Oa is among those shortlisted for the ICC women's player of the month after a notable bowling performance at the Pacific Island Women’s Cricket Challenge ©ICC

She will face opposition from Jimmy and Oa who starred for the PNG at the Pacific Island Women’s Cricket Challenge in Fiji.


Oa emerged as the leading wicket-taker with 10, while Jimmy was the top runner-scorer with 37 runs off 38 deliveries.

The ICC has also revealed the nominees for the men’s player of the month prize for March.

Among those include New Zealand’s Kane Williamson whose brilliance helped his side secure a thrilling 2-0 series victory over Sri Lanka on home soil.

Williamson produced an unforgettable 121 not out on the final day in New Zealand’s dramatic last-ball triumph against Sri Lanka.

He then notched 215 in a 363-run partnership with Henry Nicholls as his team completed a ICC World Test Championship victory.

Kane Williamson has been in superb form for New Zealand ©Getty Images
Kane Williamson has been in superb form for New Zealand ©Getty Images

Asif Khan of the United Arab Emirates and Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh are also contenders for the men’s player of the month award.

All-rounder Al Hasan, winner of the prize back in July 2021, is shortlisted after a series of outstanding displays in his side’s recent short format successes against touring England and Ireland sides.

Khan starred with the bat against Nepal before notching another century at the ICC Cricket World Cup qualifier play-off tournament against the United States in Namibia.

The shortlist is voted on by members of the ICC Voting Academy, who hold a 90 per cent share of the vote, with fans holding a 10 per cent share of the vote.

The winners are due to be announced tomorrow (April 10).