KEY POINTS
- Sikandar Raza, born in Sialkot, has become the No. 1 ODI all-rounder in the world
- Raza overtakes Afghanistan’s Omarzai and Nabi in the ICC rankings
- Raza has emerged as a leader, scoring over 1100 international runs in 2022
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan-born Zimbabwean cricketer Sikandar Raza has climbed to the top of the ICC Men’s ODI all-rounder rankings for the first time, achieving the milestone at the age of 39.
With scores of 92 and an unbeaten 59, plus a vital wicket against Sri Lanka in Harare, Raza outshone the competition and leapt ahead of Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi, two all-rounders known for their dominance.
This feat not only crowns Raza’s unwavering consistency but also marks a personal triumph. His previous best was No. 2 in December 2023. Now, he stands alone at the top.
Long road to glory
Sikandar Raza Butt was born in Sialkot, Pakistan, into a Punjabi-speaking Kashmiri family. He spent three years studying at the Pakistan Air Force Public School in Lower Topa, Murree, with dreams of becoming a Pakistan Air Force pilot.
That dream came to a halt when a failed vision test clipped his wings. But destiny had a different flight path planned.
In 2002, Raza’s family moved to Zimbabwe, where he found a new home, and eventually, a new dream. Cricket took over. From studying software engineering in Scotland to smashing T20 centuries on grounds later used in Bollywood films, Raza’s script was always cinematic.
From bat to ball, Sikandar Raza rules it all – the world’s No.1 ODI all-rounder🔥
Back-to-back heroics vs Sri Lanka in Harare lift @SRazaB24 past Nabi and Omarzai to a 302 rating. pic.twitter.com/A4EKgdBrui
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) September 3, 2025
Fighter on and off the field
From being dropped after a stellar 2018 World Cup Qualifier to battling a bone marrow infection in 2021, Raza’s resilience has defined his career.
He bounced back not just to play, but to lead — captaining Zimbabwe’s T20 side and starring in wins over Ireland and Pakistan in global tournaments.
In 2022 alone, he piled up 615 ODI runs and 516 T20I runs, cementing his status as Zimbabwe’s heartbeat across formats.
A star across the globe
Raza’s impact stretches far beyond Zimbabwe. He’s now a regular face in T20 franchise leagues, and a two-time PSL champion with Lahore Qalandars.
His commitment is such that he flew from Nottingham to Lahore overnight, right after a Test match, just to join his PSL team and won for Qalandars single-handedly.
New No.1 👀
More as a Zimbabwe all-rounder stands at the top of the latest ICC ODI rankings ⬇️https://t.co/73Dg25vySJ
— ICC (@ICC) September 3, 2025
Rankings shake-up
While Raza claimed the all-rounder crown, South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj claimed the No. 1 spot among ODI bowlers, thanks to a 4-for-22 against England.
Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka, after scoring 198 runs in the series against Zimbabwe, soared to 13th in ODI batting rankings. Fellow Lankan Janith Liyanage moved up to 29th, while Zimbabwe’s Sean Williams climbed to 47th.
In T20Is, Afghanistan’s Sediqullah Atal made headlines with a jaw-dropping leap of 346 spots to 127th, while Pakistan’s young guns Sufiyan Muqeem, Shaheen Afridi, and Mohammad Nawaz made notable progress among bowlers.
ICC ODI All-Rounders Rankings
Meanwhile, Indian batter Shubman Gill leads the ODI batting charts with 784 points, while South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj reigns supreme among bowlers, holding the No. 1 spot with 671 points.
