The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the nominees for the Men’s Player of the Month for October 2025 on 6 November 2025. The list includes three outstanding performers, Senuran Muthusamy (South Africa), Noman Ali (Pakistan), and Rashid Khan (Afghanistan), who made a huge impact in their respective series during the month.
Their performances between 30 September and 2 November 2025 stood out for their consistency, match-winning ability, and dominance with the ball.
1. Senuran Muthusamy (South Africa)
South Africa’s left-arm spinner and lower-order batter Senuran Muthusamy enjoyed a dream run in October during the two-Test series against Pakistan. He delivered with both bat and ball, helping the Proteas to a key series victory.
Muthusamy picked up 11 wickets in the first Test, including figures of 6 in the first innings and 5 in the second, despite his remarkable efforts, South Africa lost the match by 93 runs. In the second Test, when the team was in trouble, he played a fighting unbeaten knock of 89 runs, his career-best score, to stabilize the innings.
Across the two Tests, he scored 106 runs at an average of 53 and took 11 wickets at an average of 18.36. His all-round bravery earned him the Player of the Series title. Muthusamy’s very calm temper and his control with the ball made him one of South Africa’s most reliable performers of the month.
2. Noman Ali (Pakistan)
Pakistan’s experienced spinner Noman Ali was one of the standout bowlers in the same Test series. The 39-year-old left-arm orthodox spinner topped the wicket charts with 14 wickets at an average of 23.07, proving his value on home soil.
In the first Test at Lahore, Noman picked up 6/112 and 4/79, and earned his third ten-wicket match haul in Test cricket. In the second Test at Rawalpindi, he added four more wickets and contributed useful runs in the lower order. His control, clever use of spin, and skill in using the pitch helped Pakistan stay competitive in the series.
Despite Pakistan losing the match, Noman’s consistency and leadership in the spin department earned him a deserving spot in the nominees list.
3. Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)
Afghanistan’s superstar leg-spinner Rashid Khan continued to shine in both limited-overs formats. October saw him dominate the ODI series against Bangladesh and the T20I series against Zimbabwe.
In five T20Is, Rashid took 9 wickets at a brilliant economy rate of 4.82, with standout figures of 4/18 against Bangladesh and 3/9 versus Zimbabwe. His variations, control, and match awareness once again made him one of the toughest bowlers to face in world cricket.
Rashid continued his great form in the ODI series as well, where he took 11 wickets with an excellent economy rate of 2.73. He also claimed a five-wicket haul (5/17) in the second ODI against Bangladesh. His regular wicket-taking in both formats proved why he’s one of the world’s most valuable players.
A Month Dominated by Spin
All three nominees for October 2025 are spin bowlers, something that doesn’t happen often and it shows how spin ruled international cricket that month. Muthusamy impressed with his control and batting, Noman with his steady bowling on home pitches, and Rashid with his skill in limited-overs games. Spin was the key to all their success.
Who Might Win?
The final decision rests with the ICC voting process, which combines votes from a global panel of journalists and fans.
- Muthusamy has the edge for his all-round performances in Tests.
- Noman Ali impressed with sheer wicket-taking consistency.
- Rashid Khan, however, made an impact in both formats, showing his unmatched versatility.
Regardless of who wins, October 2025 clearly belonged to the spinners, proving once again that flair and skill can outshine pace in the modern game.
Written by Kinjal Walantra