ICC ODI Rankings: Just months before the start of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, Pakistan’s pace spearhead, Shaheen Afridi, has reclaimed the top position in the ICC Men’s ODI Bowler Rankings. The left-arm fast bowler regained his place as the world’s number one ODI bowler following his impressive performances during Pakistan’s historic series win over Australia.
Shaheen Afridi’s Rise To The Top
Shaheen Afridi’s remarkable displays in Pakistan’s recent 3-0 ODI series win against Australia propelled him to the top of the ICC Men’s ODI Bowler Rankings. During the series, Afridi took eight wickets at an outstanding average of 12.62, finishing as the second-highest wicket-taker of the series.
His stellar performance helped him leapfrog three places in the rankings, dethroning South Africa’s spinner Keshav Maharaj, who now sits in second, while Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan maintains his position at number two.
Afridi had previously held the top spot midway through last year’s ICC Men’s ODI World Cup in India, and his recent surge has solidified his place as one of the premier bowlers in the format.
Haris Rauf And Naseem Shah Make Significant Gains
Shaheen’s bowling partner, Haris Rauf, also enjoyed a significant improvement in the ICC ODI rankings. The right-arm fast bowler jumped 14 places to claim 13th spot, a career-high ranking. Rauf’s excellent performance in the Australia series, where he took 10 wickets and was named Player of the Series, played a pivotal role in his rise.
Meanwhile, young pacer Naseem Shah also achieved a career-best ranking, improving by 14 spots to join the 55th position in the ODI rankings. The three fast bowlers — Shaheen, Rauf, and Naseem — have now helped Pakistan secure the number-one bowler position in both ODIs and T20Is.
Babar Azam Extends Lead In ODI Batting Rankings
Pakistan’s newly crowned captain Mohammad Rizwan wasn’t the only one making strides in the rankings. Former captain Babar Azam extended his lead at the top of the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings. Azam’s 80 runs in the recent series against Australia ensured he remained the number-one batter in ODI cricket. He was dismissed just once across the three ODIs, further cementing his dominance in the format.
Mohammad Rizwan also made significant progress in the ODI batting rankings. Rizwan moved up two places to equal 23rd in the list after scoring 74 runs in the three-match series against Australia, showing consistent form with the bat.
Other Notable Moves In The ODI Rankings
Bangladesh’s Najmul Hossain Shanto made a significant rise, moving 11 places to equal 23rd in the ODI batting rankings.
Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai also gained ground, moving up the ODI batter rankings to equal 31st position.
West Indies spinner Gudakesh Motie climbed to 14th in the ODI bowlers’ list.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz of Bangladesh moved up nine spots to join the 23rd position in the ODI bowler rankings.
Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi continued his dominance as the number one ODI all-rounder, with Mehidy moving to 4th and Omarzai rising to 9th.
T20I Rankings: Major Shifts In Batting and Bowling
There were also several exciting changes in the T20I player rankings, with England’s dynamic opening duo, Phil Salt (up to 2nd) and Jos Buttler (up to 6th), both making significant gains. Additionally, West Indies’ Nicholas Pooran jumped into the top 10, moving to 10th place.
South Africa’s explosive batters Reeza Hendricks and Tristan Stubbs also made notable gains. Hendricks rose two spots to 12th, while Stubbs made an impressive jump of 12 places to 26th in the T20I batting rankings.
Wanindu Hasaranga Surges In T20I Bowler Rankings
In the T20I bowling rankings, Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga was the biggest mover, climbing four places to 2nd position, behind top-ranked Adil Rashid. Other significant moves in the T20I bowlers’ list included West Indies’ Akeal Hosein (3rd), India’s Ravi Bishnoi (7th), and New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner (13th), all making headway in the rankings.
India’s Varun Chakravarthy, after a stunning five-wicket haul against South Africa, jumped from outside the top 100 to equal 64th in the T20I bowler rankings, showcasing his rise as a key player in India’s bowling attack.
Liam Livingstone And Romario Shepherd Shine Among T20I All-rounders
In the T20I all-rounder rankings, England’s Liam Livingstone continued his dominance at the top, while Sri Lanka’s Hasaranga moved up to 5th. West Indies’ Romario Shepherd also made notable progress, rising four spots to 8th, further solidifying his place as one of the best T20I all-rounders.
