ICC Men's Player of the Month October 2026: Jansen, Minhas, and Hope in the Running
Marco Jansen, Arafat Minhas, and Shai Hope are nominated for ICC Men's Player of the Month for October 2026 after stellar performances.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially revealed the nominees for the ICC Men's Player of the Month award for October 2026. Three cricketers have been made shortlist for the award following a month of high-octane action across different formats of the game. South African all-rounder Marco Jansen, Pakistan's Arafat Minhas, and West Indies captain Shai Hope have been nominated for their exceptional contributions to their respective teams.
Marco Jansen: The All-Round Dominance
Marco Jansen has been an indispensable asset for South Africa during their 2-1 victory in the ICC World Test Championship series against Australia. The all-rounder's impact was felt across all three Tests, where he played a pivotal role with both the bat and the gloves.
His most dominant display came during the second Test in Gqeberha, where he he scored 85 runs and took six wickets, steering South Africa to a massive innings and 31-run win. He didn't stop there; in the series-deciding third Test in Cape Town, he contributed another half-century and claimed three wickets. These consistent performances have propelled him to the top of the ICC Men's Test All-Rounder Rankings.
Arafat Minhas: The Game Changer for Pakistan
Pakistan's Arafat Minhas emerged as a standout performer during the home ODI tri-series. He was instrumental in Pakistan's title-winning journey, delivering a couple of high-impact performances.
Across five matches, Minhas accumulated 149 runs at an average of 29.80 and claimed nine wickets at an average of 23.22. A highlight of his month was his 59 runs against England, followed by a stunning 6/40—the second-best ODI bowling figures for a Pakistani bowler on home soil. In the final against Sri Lanka, he shifted gears into aggressive batting, smashing 61 runs off just 31 balls to help Pakistan chase down a target of 326 to lift the trophy. His overall dominance earned him the Player of the Series award.
Shai Hope: The Captain's Knock
West Indies captain Shai Hope has been an outstanding month of batting brilliance against India. Across an ODI and T20I series, the skipper own his form up the notch.
"The West Indies achieved their highest-ever successful run chase in ODIs after Hope scored an unbeaten 162 in the third ODI in New Chandigarh."
Hope's brilliance continued into the T20I series, where he scored two centuries, including a blistering unbeaten 102 off just 50 balls. He finished the series with 261 runs at a strike rate of 190.51, proving his own leadership and form.
What's Next?
The winner of the ICC Men's Player of the Month award for October 2026 will be determined through a voting process, and the ICC will announce the winner shortly.