Islamabad, February 14, 2024 – Mohammad Nabi, the veteran Afghanistan cricketer, has dethroned Shakib Al Hasan to claim the coveted top spot in the ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings.
This significant achievement comes on the back of Nabi’s outstanding performance in the first One Day International (ODI) against Sri Lanka in Pallekele, where he showcased his all-round prowess by scoring a remarkable century.
At the age of 39 years and one month, Mohammad Nabi became the oldest player to lead the ICC ODI all-rounders’ rankings, surpassing the previous record held by Tillkaratne Dilshan. Dilshan achieved the feat at 38 years and eight months in June 2015. Nabi, a former number one T20I all-rounder, displayed exceptional resilience with his fighting innings of 136, making history in the process.
Shakib Al Hasan’s reign at the top, lasting for an impressive 1,739 days since May 7, 2019, came to an end with Mohammad Nabi’s stellar performance. Shakib’s total reign of 4,276 days, spanning over 11 ½ years, stands as a record, with Kapil Dev trailing behind with 3,816 days.
The first two ODIs of the series, both won by Sri Lanka, witnessed notable performances from players on both sides. Azmatullah Omarzai, another Afghan cricketer, rose 19 places to 57th position after his unbeaten 149 in the first ODI. Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka, Pathum Nissanka, and Sadeera Samarawickrama also made significant gains in the rankings.
In the T20I arena, Glenn Maxwell’s explosive 120 not out off 55 balls against the West Indies propelled him 11 places to the 24th position. Australian players Tim David and David Warner also saw improvements in their batting rankings. Adam Zampa moved up to the 11th position in the bowling rankings after an impressive five-wicket haul, and Marcus Stoinis climbed to the second spot in the all-rounders’ list.
In the Test rankings, South Africa’s David Bedingham made a notable jump of 30 places to 79th in the batting rankings after his solid performances in the first Test against New Zealand in Tauranga. New Zealand’s Kyle Jamieson and Matt Henry also saw improvements in the bowling rankings.
Meanwhile, Nepal players showcased their prowess in a home series against Canada, making significant strides in the rankings ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2. Captain Rohit Paudel, Kushal Bhurtel, and Lalit Rajbanshi all made commendable progress in their respective categories.
As cricket enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2, these rankings reflect the dynamic nature of the sport and set the stage for thrilling contests on the cricketing horizon.
