Pakistan’s fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has climbed to the top of the ICC ODI rankings for the first time in his career. The Pakistan pacer has come under fire for failing to start the ongoing World Cup. However, Afridi took 5 wickets against Australia and 3 wickets against South Africa and Bangladesh.
Shaheen became the No. 1 bowler in the bowling rankings for the first time in his five-year career in the updated rankings released by the ICC on Wednesday (November 1). The left-handed pacer has occupied the top spot from the seventh position.
Former cricketers criticized Shaheen Afridi’s form at the start of the ongoing World Cup in India. However, Afridi held his own Rudramurti against the former world champion Australia. Pakistan pacer took 11 wickets in the last three matches. Which made him the joint highest wicket taker in the competition. Shaheen has taken 16 wickets equal to Australian spinner Adam Jumper. The left-arm pacer also set the record for the fastest 100-wicket haul among pacers with 3 wickets against Bangladesh yesterday.
Australian pacer Hazlewood dropped to two as Shaheen climbed to the top of the rankings. Apart from this, Siraj, Keshav Maharaj, Trent Boult, Rashid Khan, Kuldeep Yadav and Mujeeb Ur have taken a step back.
Babar Azam is at the top of the ODI batting rankings. So far, the Pakistan captain has scored three fifties on the World Cup stage. But Shubman Gill is very close to surpassing him. Their rating difference is only 2. The Indian opener will rise to the top only if he can play a big innings against Sri Lanka. On the other hand, Shakib Al Hasan is at the top of the list of ODI all-rounders.
