Afghanistan spinner boosts lead at top of ODI bowler rankings
Good signs for Afghanistan less than a year out from the 50-over World Cup, as a trio of West Indies stars make gains in the latest T20I rankings.
Experienced Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan has further strengthened his spot as the premier white-ball bowler in the world as he increased his lead at the top of the ICC Men's ODI Bowling Rankings.
Rashid is already the No.1 ranked player on the ODI and T20I charts and he has moved even further clear at the top of the 50-over rankings following his excellent four-wicket haul against Zimbabwe in Afghanistan's ongoing tri-series in the UAE that also includes Bangladesh.
The right-armer had the ball on a string as he collected four valuable wickets against Zimbabwe to finish with imposing figures of 4/17 from eight overs, with that effort boosting his rating from 714 to 742 points.
It means Rashid now has an 80-point lead at the top of the ODI bowler rankings, with Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed (second) and South Africa left-armer Keshav Maharaj (third) dropping further off the pace following the latest exploits from the Afghanistan star who also makes two spots on the updated list for ODI all-rounders to rise to sixth.
Rashid Khan lauds Afghanistan's historic World Cup campaign | CWC23
Star spinner Rashid Khan looks back on Afghanistan's efforts at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 where they secured four famous victories
It also bodes well for Afghanistan less than 12 months out from the next edition of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, which is scheduled to be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia towards the end of 2027.
There is further joy for Afghanistan as young star Sediqullah Atal rockets up the latest rankings for ODI batters from 32nd to 20th following his superb century from that same match that Rashid excelled in.
Sediqullah smashed his third ODI century when compiling 102 from just 110 deliveries as Afghanistan completed a comprehensive 158-run victory over Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi.
There are also gains in the latest ODI batter rankings for Pakistan dasher Salman Agha (up one spot to 12th) and England left-hander Ben Duckett (up two rungs to 13th) following their meeting in Rawalpindi, while Shoriful Islam (up two slots to 11th), Taskin Ahmed (up nine places to 12th) and Haris Rauf (up two spots to equal 20th) are among the other players to make ground on the updated list for ODI bowlers.
Haris Rauf takes stunning return catch | PAK v SA | CWC23
A stunning left-handed grab from the Pakistan pacer on the follow-through leaves South Africa nine down.
There is movement on the updated T20I rankings following the recent five-game series between India and the West Indies and it's a trio of players from the Caribbean side that make the biggest moves this week.
West Indies skipper Shai Hope gains two places to move to ninth on the updated list for T20I batters as teammate Sherfane Rutherford rises six rungs to improve to 18th, while left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie jumps 10 spots to 26th on the rankings for T20I bowlers.