Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi has ousted Shakib Al Hasan’s long reign as the ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings’ number one all-rounder, scoring a century in the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Pallekele.
Nabi, who had previously been the number one T20I all-rounder, moved up to the top spot in ODIs after scoring 136 to become the oldest player to top the ICC ODI all-rounders’ rankings at 39 years and one month. Tillkaratne Dilshan of Sri Lanka held the previous record of 38 years and eight months when he was ranked first in June 2015.
Rashid Khan (ODI bowling, ODI all-rounder, T20I bowling) and Mujeeb Ur Rahman (T20I bowling) are the other Afghan players who have topped the ICC rankings.
Shakib had been at the top of the ODI Rankings for 1,739 days (from May 7, 2019), the longest unbroken stretch by any player. His reign lasted a record 4,276 days, or over 11 ½ years. Kapil Dev follows with 3,816 days, including two stints of 1,376 and 1,375 days.
The first two ODIs of the series, both won by Sri Lanka, included some other standout performances from both teams. Azmatullah Omarzai was another Afghanistan player to rise after his unbeaten 149 in the first ODI propelled him 19 places to 57th, while a slew of Sri Lankan players soared in the rankings.
Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka has risen five places to a career-high 15th after smashing an unbeaten 97 in the second ODI, Pathum Nissanka has risen ten places to 18th after defeating Omarazai and Nabi in the first ODI, and Sadeera Samarawickrama has risen from 47th to 41st after useful knocks of 45 and 52.
Spinner Wanindu Hasaranga surged 14 places to 26th after taking four for 27, while left-arm seam bowler Dilshan Madhushanka moved from 37th to 33rd.
Nepal players also saw significant advances in rankings after defeating Canada 3-0 at home ahead of the first ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2, which begins on Thursday in Kirtipur with a Tri-series featuring Namibia, the Netherlands, and hosts Nepal.
Captain Rohit Paudel has risen three places to 77th after scoring 87 in the second match, while Kushal Bhurtel has risen eight places to 88th after scoring 62 in the same match, and left-arm spinner Lalit Rajbanshi has risen 14 places to 79th in the bowling rankings after taking three wickets in two matches.
