The ICC has announced three nominees for the March 2023 Player of the Month award, including Pakistani batsman Fakhar Zaman, New Zealand all-rounder Mark Chapman and Prabath Jayasuriya.

The International Cricket Council today announced the international stars who were recognized for their excellence in April when the shortlists for the ICC Men's and Women's Awards of the Month were announced. The ICC Men's Player of the Month nominees embody another dramatic period in international cricket, while the ICC Women's Player of the Month nominees recognize some of the finest talent to emerge on the global stage.

Among the players honored on the ICC Men of the Month shortlist is New Zealand's Mark Chapman, who has been nominated for the first time following his T20I exploits in the recently drawn series in Pakistan. Sri Lankan spinner Prabath Jayasuriya is hoping to earn his second Player of the Month thanks to a productive month of wicket-taking in his side's win against Ireland. The final contender is Pakistan's Fakhar Zaman, who gets his first nomination since April 2021 for showing himself as a winner in the ODI series against New Zealand with two dazzling centuries.

The nominees for ICC Player of the Month consist of top performers from April's bilateral series, all nominated for the first time. Thailand's Naruemol Chaiwai delivered a string of superb batting performances as her side recorded a landmark ODI series win over Zimbabwe. Kavisha Egodage of the United Arab Emirates enjoyed a long run of high scores in eight T20I games during the month. Joining them on the shortlist is Kelis Ndhlovu of Zimbabwe, who became known for her wicket threat threats in ODI and T20I matches in April.

Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan)

Fakhar Zaman led the charge for Pakistan as they staged their second-highest ODI chase in Rawalpindi late in the month. The opening goal slammed an unbeaten 180, which helped Pakistan chase a 337 goal against the New Zealand side to take a 2-0 lead in the series.

Fakhar knocked with 17 boundaries and six massive sixes as Pakistan won with 10 balls remaining in a high-scoring contest.

This was the left-hander's second ton in as many games in April. His 117 balls from 114 helped Pakistan chase 289 in the first game at the same venue.

Fakhar led the running hunt from the start and was only dismissed in the 43rd run as Pakistan were well on their way to claiming victory. He was named Player of the Game for his efforts.

The left-hander started the month with a quick 47 in the first T20I in Lahore against New Zealand and played a role in the home side's stunning 88-run win. While he didn't click in the next two T20I matches, Fakhar stormed into form in ODIs, a format in which he was consistently successful.

Mark Chapman (New Zealand)

In the series' opening game, a crushing loss in Lahore, he led New Zealand on 34 balls from 27 balls. The left-handed hitter then added an unbeaten 65 from 40 balls with four fours and four sixes, although New Zealand also lost the second game by 38 runs.

Chapman upped his intensity in the remaining two games of the series, scoring his first T20I century as New Zealand beat 194 in the fifth and deciding game to level the series.

Chapman rose 48 spots in the MRF Tires ICC Men's T20I Batting Rankings thanks to his stellar performances, advancing to 35th with a career-high rating of 537 points.

Prabath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka)

Prabath Jayasuriya reached the milestone faster than any other crackpot in the history of the sport, winning 50 wickets in just seven Test matches.

The left-arm spinner reached the milestone in the second Test of the series when he caught Paul Stirling, the centurion from the first innings, on the final day of the contest. Stirling had taken 17 wickets in the two-match Test series against Ireland at Galle.

In his seventh Test match, Jayasuriya became the first player to take 50 Test wickets, breaking spinner Alf Valentine's previous record.

As the second fastest person overall to reach this milestone, he joined the ranks of Vernon Philander of South Africa and Tom Richardson of England.