The ICC has shortlisted three cricketers for its Player of the Month award for October: South Africa's Marco Jansen, West Indies captain Shai Hope and Pakistan's Arafat Minhas. Each posted strong numbers in a different format. This article compares their output using runs, wickets, averages and strike rates.
Nominees at a Glance
The three nominees come from different formats and contexts, which makes a direct comparison difficult. Jansen's case rests on Test cricket, Hope's on ODIs and T20Is, and Minhas's on a home tri-series.
The table below summarises the headline figures from the reported performances.
| Player | Team | Series | Key Output | Award Won |
|---|
| Marco Jansen | South Africa | Test series vs Australia (3 matches) | 146 runs, 10 wickets | Player of the Series |
| Shai Hope | West Indies | ODI and T20I series vs India | 278 ODI runs, 261 T20I runs | Nominated on series form |
| Arafat Minhas | Pakistan | Tri-series vs England and Sri Lanka | 6/40, 59 runs, 61 off 31 | Player of the Series |
Marco Jansen: All-Round Impact in Tests
Jansen was one of South Africa's most consistent performers across formats. His influence in the three-match Test series against Australia came from the lower-middle order and with the ball.
He scored 146 runs and took 10 wickets, which earned him the Player of the Series award. That output is notable because he contributed in both disciplines in the same series.
Ranking Movement
Jansen moved to the top of the ICC Test all-rounder rankings, displacing Ravindra Jadeja. He also briefly held the No.1 Test bowler position before Mitchell Starc overtook him.
| Metric | Value |
|---|
| Matches | 3 |
| Runs | 146 |
| Wickets | 10 |
| Test all-rounder ranking | No.1 (overtook Ravindra Jadeja) |
| Test bowler ranking | No.1 for a few days |
Shai Hope: Dominant White-Ball Form Against India
Hope's case is built on volume and conversion. He was the leading run-scorer in the T20I series with 261 runs in four innings, including two hundreds and one fifty. That works out to roughly 65 runs per innings.
In the ODI series he finished second on the run charts behind Shubman Gill. He made 278 runs in three innings at an average of 139, with two hundreds against India.
Chasing a Record Total
Hope also played a central role in the third ODI, where West Indies chased down their highest-ever total. A high conversion rate in a decisive match strengthens his claim.
| Format | Innings | Runs | Average | Hundreds | Fifties | Series Rank |
|---|
| T20I | 4 | 261 | Not stated | 2 | 1 | 1st (leading run-scorer) |
| ODI | 3 | 278 | 139.00 | 2 | Not stated | 2nd (behind Shubman Gill) |
Arafat Minhas: Two-Way Contributions in the Tri-Series
Minhas made an impact with both bat and ball in Pakistan's home tri-series featuring England and Sri Lanka. Against England he scored 59 runs and took 6/40 in the same match, a rare double.
In the final against Sri Lanka he scored 61 off 31 balls, a strike rate of about 196.8. That innings helped Pakistan chase 326 and win the trophy, and he was named Player of the Series.
Key Figures
| Match | Batting | Bowling | Context |
|---|
| vs England | 59 runs | 6/40 | Both contributions in the same match |
| Final vs Sri Lanka | 61 off 31 (SR 196.77) | Not stated | Successful chase of 326 |
Comparing the Cases
Each nominee has a distinct statistical profile. Jansen offers balance across two disciplines and a ranking shift. Hope offers the highest run volume and an exceptional ODI average. Minhas offers a combination of a six-wicket haul and a high-tempo chasing innings.
The gap between the winner and the runner-up is expected to be small, given how strong all three records are. The final decision will likely depend on how the voters weigh format, opposition and match context.
What to Watch
Hope's two hundreds in each format give him the strongest batting case. Jansen's number one all-rounder ranking provides objective support for his candidacy. Minhas's Player of the Series award and finals performance add weight to his case.
Shubman Gill previously became the first cricketer to win the ICC Player of the Month award five times, which shows how competitive this award has become.