The latest ICC rankings have unveiled significant upward movements for cricketers from Pakistan and Afghanistan, following a thrilling week of international cricket that showcased remarkable performances.
Afghanistan’s historic ODI series victory against South Africa has propelled several of its stars into the upper echelons of the rankings. Among them, young sensation Rahmanullah Gurbaz has made a name for himself by notching his seventh ODI century before his 23rd birthday.
His stellar performance has seen him jump 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.
Joining Gurbaz in the spotlight is Afghan leg-spinner Rashid Khan, who has climbed eight positions to third in the ODI Bowling Rankings, thanks to his impressive seven-wicket haul during the series against South Africa. This achievement further highlights the strength and depth of Afghan cricket on the international stage.
For Pakistan, Mohammad Rizwan continues to shine, moving up from ninth to eighth in the ODI batting rankings. The wicketkeeper-batsman has consistently delivered outstanding performances, underscoring his importance to the national team.
In the Test rankings, Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant made a sensational re-entry into the top ten, landing in sixth place after scoring a century in the second innings of India's commanding win over Bangladesh in Chennai.
His compatriot Yashasvi Jaiswal also enjoyed a boost, climbing to fifth with a notable half-century in the same match, raising his rating to 751 points. Conversely, Rohit Sharma experienced a decline, dropping five spots to tenth after struggling with scores below ten in both innings.
The latest Test matches in Galle also sparked shifts in the top ten Bowling Rankings. Sri Lanka's Prabath Jayasuriya solidified his status as one of the finest spinners in the game, moving up five spots to eighth after an outstanding nine-wicket haul against New Zealand. His ascent positions him as the leading Sri Lankan bowler, surpassing Asitha Fernando, who slid to thirteenth.
In the ODI Bowling Rankings, Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi has also made his mark, now sitting at sixth place. His consistent performance continues to emphasize the region's talent pool and the competitive nature of international cricket.
