Naseem Shah, Michael Bracewell, and Ben Sears Also Make Significant Gains
DUBAI – Despite Pakistan’s 3-0 defeat against New Zealand in the recent ODI series, wicketkeeper-batter and skipper Mohammad Rizwan has continued his upward trajectory in the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings.
Rizwan has climbed two spots to 21st place with a total of 606 rating points, showcasing consistent individual performances amidst the team’s struggles.
Changes in Pakistan’s ODI Batting Rankings
- Fakhar Zaman, who missed the series, dropped two spots to 23rd.
- Imam-ul-Haq retained his position at 34th.
- Saim Ayub slipped to 38th after losing two places.
- Vice-captain Salman Ali Agha moved up one spot to 40th.
India’s Shubman Gill remains the top-ranked ODI batter, followed by Pakistan’s Babar Azam in second place and India’s Rohit Sharma in third.
Updates in ICC ODI Bowling Rankings for Pakistan
In the latest ICC ODI Bowling Rankings:
- Shaheen Afridi dropped one position to 12th, holding 601 rating points.
- Haris Rauf slipped to 24th, a two-place decline.
- Young pacer Naseem Shah made a notable leap, moving up five spots to 43rd with 494 points.
- Returning bowler Mohammad Wasim Jr fell six positions to 68th after a quiet series.
Michael Bracewell Shines for New Zealand
New Zealand’s stand-in captain Michael Bracewell delivered a stellar all-round performance in the final ODI, earning him the Player of the Match title.
- Bracewell scored 85 runs in the third match, including a quick-fire 59 off 40 balls featuring boundaries and sixes.
- He also contributed with the ball, taking 1/39 in eight overs.
As a result, he surged:
- Two spots up to 5th in the ICC ODI All-Rounder Rankings, overtaking teammate Mitchell Santner.
- 12 places up to 89th in the Batting Rankings.
- Maintained 18th position in the Bowling Rankings.
Ben Sears Emerges as Breakout Star
Pacer Ben Sears was the standout performer of the ODI series. His brilliant five-wicket haul in the third match and a total of 10 wickets across the series earned him the Player of the Series award.
Sears’ incredible display propelled him 64 spots up in the ICC Bowling Rankings, marking a breakthrough in his international career.
Conclusion
While Pakistan faces questions following their series sweep loss to New Zealand, individual players like Mohammad Rizwan and Naseem Shah continue to climb the global rankings. On the Kiwi side, Michael Bracewell and Ben Sears have emerged as key contributors, adding depth to New Zealand’s ODI setup ahead of future tournaments.