Rizwan Climbs in ICC ODI Rankings Despite Series Sweep

Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan’s captain and wicketkeeper-batter, has moved up in the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings, despite Pakistan’s 3-0 victory against New Zealand in the recent ODI series.

Rizwan has climbed two places to 21st position with 606 points. Fakhar Zaman, a batter who is currently out of the team, has fallen two spots to 23rd, while Imam-ul-Haq has remained at 34th.

Saim Ayub, the new sensation, has also dropped two spots to 38th, while Salman Ali Agha, the vice-captain, has moved up one spot to 40th.

Shubman Gill of India is now the top-ranked ODI batter, followed by Babar Azam of Pakistan in second place and Rohit Sharma of India in third.

In the ODI bowling rankings, Shaheen Afridi, a left-arm pacer, has dropped one spot to 12th with 601 points, while Haris Rauf has dropped two spots to 24th.

Naseem Shah, a right-arm pacer, has risen five spots to 43rd with 494 points. Mohammad Wasim Jr., who returned to the squad during the recent New Zealand ODI series, has dropped six spots to 68th.

Michael Bracewell, New Zealand’s stand-in captain, has seen a considerable rise in the ICC Men’s ODI All-Rounder Rankings.

Bracewell scored 85 runs with the bat, including a fantastic half-century in the final ODI, and took two wickets in three matches.

His efforts helped him rise two spots to fifth place, surpassing compatriot Mitchell Santner (6th) to become the highest-ranked Kiwi all-rounder.

Bracewell’s 59-run onslaught off 40 balls, which included boundaries and maximums, helped the Black Caps reach 264/8 in 42 overs.

He followed up with 1/39 from eight overs, as Ben Sears’ superb five-wicket haul helped New Zealand win by 43 runs and complete a 3-0 series sweep.

Bracewell’s innings also propelled him 12 spots in the batter rankings, where he now sits at number 89, while maintaining his 18th position in the bowler rankings.

Ben Sears was the series’ standout bowler, taking five wickets in the third ODI to finish with ten wickets in the series and win Player of the Series. Sears’ outstanding performance propelled him 64 places up the Bowling Rankings.