DUBAI: The latest ICC rankings reveal significant advancements for cricketers from Pakistan and Afghanistan following an exhilarating week of international cricket filled with impressive performances.
Afghanistan’s historic ODI series victory over South Africa has propelled several players up the rankings. Among them, young sensation Rahmanullah Gurbaz has made headlines by scoring his seventh ODI century before turning 23.
His outstanding form has seen him rise ten spots to eighth place, making him the first Afghan player to break into the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Ranking’s top ten, surpassing Ibrahim Zadran’s previous best of twelfth. Gurbaz currently holds a rating of 692 points.
Afghan leg-spinner Rashid Khan has also garnered attention, climbing eight positions to third in the ODI Bowling Rankings after his remarkable seven-wicket haul during the series against South Africa. This achievement underscores the growing strength and depth of Afghan cricket on the international stage.
For Pakistan, Mohammad Rizwan continues to impress, moving up from ninth to eighth in the ODI batting rankings. The wicketkeeper-batsman has consistently delivered top-notch performances, highlighting his vital role in the national team.
In the Test rankings, Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant made a sensational return to the top ten, landing in sixth place after scoring a century in the second innings of India’s commanding victory over Bangladesh in Chennai.
His teammate Yashasvi Jaiswal also saw an increase, climbing to fifth with a notable half-century in the same match, boosting his rating to 751 points. Conversely, Rohit Sharma experienced a setback, dropping five spots to tenth after struggling with low scores in both innings.
Recent Test matches in Galle have also triggered shifts in the top ten Bowling Rankings. Sri Lanka’s Prabath Jayasuriya solidified his reputation as one of the best spinners in the game, moving up five spots to eighth after an outstanding nine-wicket haul against New Zealand, surpassing Asitha Fernando, who has slipped to thirteenth.
In the ODI Bowling Rankings, Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi has made his mark, now positioned in sixth place. His consistent performance continues to highlight the region’s talent pool and the competitive landscape of international cricket.
