The latest ICC rankings have revealed significant developments for Pakistani cricketers, with Shaheen Shah Afridi reclaiming the position of the No. 1 bowler in One Day Internationals (ODIs). Afridi’s impressive performance in the recent series against Australia showcased his bowling prowess, where he took eight wickets at an exceptional average of 12.62 across three matches. This achievement allows him to surpass reputable bowlers such as Kuldeep Yadav, Rashid Khan, and Keshav Maharaj. Rashid Khan maintains his position as the second-ranked ODI bowler, while Maharaj has dropped from the top to third place, and Kuldeep Yadav has also slipped to fourth.
This marks the second occasion that Afridi has ascended to the pinnacle of the ODI rankings, having previously held the top spot during the 2023 ODI World Cup. His excellence in the bowling department is further complemented by Haris Rauf, his fellow seam bowler, who has climbed 14 places to secure the 13th position after securing a total of 10 wickets against Australia, a performance that earned him the Player of the Series award. Additionally, Naseem Shah has also made a remarkable ascent in the rankings, moving up 14 places to achieve a career-best 55th ranking.
On the batting front, Babar Azam continues to solidify his reputation as the leading ODI batsman, despite earning modest scores of 37, 15 not out, and 28 not out in his recent outings. Babar’s consistent scoring maintains his significant lead over Indian counterparts Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli, who occupy the second, third, and fourth positions, respectively.
The recent ODI series between Afghanistan and Bangladesh in the UAE has also produced notable movements among all-rounders in the rankings. Mohammad Nabi retained his dominance as the No. 1 ODI all-rounder, while Rashid Khan improved his standing by moving up one position to third. Azmatullah Omarzai's outstanding performance during the series propelled him up two spots to No. 9, increasing the representation of Afghan cricketers in the top ten list of ODI all-rounders. Meanwhile, Bangladesh's Mehidy Hasan Miraz made a significant jump, landing at No. 4 after an impressive series where he claimed three wickets and scored 66 runs in the third ODI.
In the T20I format, Wanindu Hasaranga's impactful performance against New Zealand has been noteworthy. His overall series tally of six wickets for 37 runs, despite facing challenges during the second match—where he managed to secure four wickets for 17 runs—resulted in his ascent to the second position among T20I bowlers, trailing only behind England’s Adil Rashid. Akeal Hosein of the West Indies showcased economical bowling against England, securing the third position, while Ravi Bishnoi's four wickets from two matches against South Africa enabled him to rise to No. 7 in the T20I bowler rankings.
Further shifts were noted in the T20I batting rankings following the ongoing five-match series between England and the West Indies. The English duo of Phil Salt and Jos Buttler each made incremental progress, moving to second and sixth positions, respectively, while West Indies batsman Nicholas Pooran also advanced to occupy the tenth spot after notable performances in the series.
From the current T20I series between South Africa and India, Sanju Samson is experiencing a remarkable ascent in the batting rankings. Following a splendid performance that included his second consecutive T20I century—a breathtaking 107 off just 50 balls in the opening match—Samson surged 27 positions to reach 39th place. South African batsmen Reeza Hendricks and Tristan Stubbs also made strides, with Hendricks edging up two spots to 12th and Stubbs climbing 12 places to secure the 26th position. This T20I batting list continues to be led by Australia’s Travis Head, with Salt and India’s Suryakumar Yadav rounding out the top three.
In summary, the recent updates to the ICC rankings highlight the impressive performances and upward trajectories of several cricketers across multiple formats. Pakistani cricketers have excelled in both batting and bowling disciplines, while the competitive landscape remains dynamic as players from various nations vie for supremacy in the cricketing world. As the seasons progress, it will be interesting to observe how these rankings shift and which players emerge as the new faces of cricket excellence.