- Shaheen Shah Afridi is now the best ODI bowler in the world for the first time.
In a stunning turn of events at the ongoing ICC ODI World Cup, Pakistani pace sensation Shaheen Shah Afridi has soared to the summit of the ICC ODI bowling rankings. His remarkable rise, a seven-spot ascent, has displaced Australia’s Josh Hazlewood from the coveted No. 1 position. Afridi’s journey to the top has been fueled by an outstanding performance in the tournament, where he currently shares the leading wicket-taker position with Adam Zampa, accumulating an impressive tally of 16 wickets in seven matches at an average of 19.93.
Afridi’s ascent marks a significant milestone in his career, securing the No. 1 ranking for the first time in any format. The Pakistani speedster’s stellar performance against Bangladesh played a pivotal role in this achievement, as he clinched a remarkable three-wicket haul while conceding just 21 runs in his nine overs. During this game, Afridi also celebrated the milestone of reaching 100 ODI wickets in only 51 innings, making him the third-fastest bowler in history to achieve this feat and the quickest among fast bowlers, narrowly surpassing Mitchell Starc.
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Pakistan now finds itself in a dominant position with not only Afridi leading the bowling charts but also with Babar Azam maintaining his grip on the top spot in the batting rankings. However, Babar’s position is under scrutiny with a mere two rating points separating him from his competitors. The talented batsman has contributed 216 runs in seven innings, averaging 30.85, featuring three half-centuries.
In the batting rankings, rising star Shubman Gill is in close pursuit of Babar Azam, while the experienced Rohit Sharma has risen three spots to break into the top five. David Warner, currently second in the list of run-getters, has also made upward progress, occupying the fourth spot.
Turning to the bowling department, Kuldeep Yadav and Mujeeb Ur Rahman have secured the seventh and eighth positions, respectively, in the rankings chart. Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan continues to dominate the all-rounders list, showcasing his exceptional abilities in both batting and bowling.
As Pakistan revels in the dual glory of having the top-ranked batsman and bowler in ODIs, Shaheen Shah Afridi’s rapid rise to the summit stands as a testament to his exceptional skills and contribution to Pakistan’s success in the ongoing ODI World Cup.
