NEW DELHI: UAE captain Muhammad Waseem has been crowned the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for May 2025, following a string of match-winning performances that led his team to a historic T20I series victory over Bangladesh. This marks Waseem’s second Player of the Month award, his first coming in April 2024.The 29-year-old batter outshone Scotland’s Brandon McMullen and USA’s Milind Kumar to claim the honour. “I am delighted to win the ICC Player of the Month award for the second time,” Waseem said, dedicating the award to his teammates, support staff, and fans.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Waseem led from the front, amassing 145 runs across three T20Is at a blistering strike rate of 166.66. After scoring 54 in the series opener, he followed up with a match-winning 82 off just 42 balls to power UAE to their first-ever win over Bangladesh. The UAE went on to clinch the series 2-1 in Sharjah.
He also contributed significantly in ODIs, scoring 169 runs in five matches at an average of 33.80, rounding off a prolific month.Calling the victory a testament to UAE cricket’s growth, Waseem praised the youngsters in the squad and emphasised the team’s ambition to challenge top-tier nations regularly. “Our aim is now to continue our progress and make our presence felt in major international events,” he added.The achievement marks a major milestone for UAE cricket, showcasing the team’s rising stature on the global stage.