West Indies left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie has been crowned the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for May 2024, surpassing notable competitors such as Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi and Ireland’s Lorcan Tucker. Motie is the second West Indian to earn this accolade this year, following pace sensation Shamar Joseph’s win in January.
The 29-year-old was instrumental in West Indies’ 3-0 T20I series sweep against South Africa, claiming eight wickets at an exceptional average of 8.50 and maintaining an economy rate just over six. Motie consistently took at least two wickets while conceding under 30 runs in all three matches.
Expressing his joy to the ICC, Motie said:
“It means a lot to me, and I am very happy to win this award. It’s very encouraging. I have put in a lot of work during this season, and I am happy to see the rewards now. The standout performance for me during the series against South Africa was the first game, where I took three for 25. The third wicket that night was my favorite.”
Motie has solidified his position in the West Indian lineup across all three formats, boasting an impressive tally of 62 wickets in 29 matches.
“I See Us Going All the Way and Lifting That Cup on 29 June” – Gudakesh Motie
Motie is thrilled to be competing in the ongoing 2024 T20 World Cup on home soil and is optimistic about West Indies’ chances of reaching the grand finale on June 29. The left-arm spinner has been in remarkable form during the tournament, taking five wickets at an average of 11 and an economy rate of 6.11 in three matches.
“Playing in a World Cup means a lot to me, and playing at home in front of our fans and knowing the conditions is also special. We have started strongly, playing three games and getting three wins, and I see us going all the way and lifting that cup on 29 June,” said Motie.
West Indies recently secured their third consecutive win by defeating New Zealand, ensuring their qualification for the Super Eight. Motie was the star performer with the ball, delivering figures of 3/25 in four overs to help the West Indies defend a total of 149, ultimately winning by 13 runs.
The Guyana-born spinner will be back in action when the Caribbean side faces Afghanistan in their final group stage match on Monday, June 17.
