Pakistan’s pace sensation, Shaheen Afridi, has surged back to the No.1 spot in the ICC Men’s ODI Bowler Rankings, regaining the title he first earned during last year’s Cricket World Cup in India.
Afridi’s stellar performance in Pakistan’s recent ODI series triumph over Australia played a pivotal role in his rankings boost. The left-arm pacer claimed eight wickets across three matches at a remarkable average of 12.62, cementing his dominance in the format.
This rankings reshuffle also saw South African spinner Keshav Maharaj drop to third, while Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan held onto the second position.
Pakistan’s Double No.1s: Shaheen and Babar Lead the Rankings
Shaheen Afridi’s resurgence, coupled with captain Babar Azam’s reign as the top ODI batter, has made Pakistan the only team boasting No.1 players in both batting and bowling categories. Babar, who scored 80 runs in the Australia series, remains unmatched in the ODI batting rankings.
Meanwhile, other Pakistani players made significant advancements. Haris Rauf climbed to a career-best 13th spot after earning the Player of the Series title for his 10 wickets against Australia. Naseem Shah jumped 14 places to secure 55th in the bowling rankings, while new ODI captain Mohammad Rizwan rose to 23rd in the batting charts.
Key Performers from Other Nations
– Bangladesh’s Najmul Hossain Shanto moved up 11 places to share the 23rd spot in the batting rankings.
– Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai advanced to 31st among ODI batters.
– West Indies’ Gudakesh Motie and Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan Miraz also made strides in bowling, with Mehidy climbing nine spots to 23rd.
T20I Rankings: England and Sri Lanka Shine
In the T20I format, England’s Phil Salt and Jos Buttler climbed to second and sixth among batters after impressive performances against the West Indies. South African stars Reeza Hendricks and Tristan Stubbs also made waves, with Stubbs leaping 12 spots to 26th.
On the bowling front, Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga advanced to second behind England’s Adil Rashid, while West Indies’ Akeal Hosein and India’s Ravi Bishnoi claimed third and seventh positions, respectively. Sri Lanka’s Matheesha Pathirana impressed by jumping 22 spots to reach 31st.
All-Rounder Rankings
England’s Liam Livingstone remains the top-ranked T20I all-rounder. Hasaranga moved up to fifth, while West Indies’ Romario Shepherd climbed to eighth, reflecting a strong surge in form.
Pakistan’s cricketing dominance, led by Shaheen Afridi and Babar Azam, continues to make headlines as the team solidifies its position among the world’s best.
