It’s been a monumental week for Pakistan cricket, with Shaheen Afridi reclaiming the No. 1 position in the ICC Men’s ODI Bowler Rankings. This achievement underscores Afridi’s remarkable form, particularly following his outstanding series against Australia, where he took eight wickets at an average of 12.62. His return to the top spot in the rankings comes just ahead of the highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025, further boosting Pakistan’s dominance in ODI cricket.
Afridi’s rise also solidifies Pakistan’s standing, with Babar Azam already holding the No. 1 ranking for ODI batters. Additionally, Haris Rauf’s stellar performance, including a 10-wicket haul against Australia, earned him the Player of the Series award and helped him leap 14 spots to claim 13th place in the ODI bowling rankings. Naseem Shah, another Pakistani fast bowler, saw significant improvement as well, jumping 14 positions to rank 55th.
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Beyond Pakistan, several other players across different nations have made strides. In the ODI rankings for batters, Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan climbed to 23rd place, thanks to his consistent displays against Australia, and Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto also moved into the 23rd spot. In the bowling department, West Indies’ Gudakesh Motie rose to 14th, while Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan Miraz surged to 23rd.
In the T20I format, England’s Phil Salt advanced to second place in the batting rankings, while Jos Buttler and Nicholas Pooran made gains as well. Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga climbed to second in the T20I bowling rankings, with West Indies’ Akeal Hosein and India’s Ravi Bishnoi also securing top-10 spots.
This period of individual achievements reflects the vibrant state of international cricket, with Pakistan leading the charge as a powerhouse in the ODI format just ahead of a major global tournament.
