The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released the latest One Day International (ODI) player rankings, bringing both positive and concerning news for Pakistan cricket fans. Pakistan’s star batter and former captain Babar Azam continues to shine, holding second place in the ICC ODI batters’ rankings. India’s Shubman Gill remains at the top spot, showing consistency in form, while Indian skipper Rohit Sharma follows closely in third position.
Sri Lankan players have made notable progress. Charith Asalanka climbed two spots to secure sixth place, while Kusal Mendis made a major leap of ten ranks, breaking into the top 10 at number ten. Their rise reflects the strong performances of Sri Lanka in recent ODI matches.
On the bowling front, Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana continues to dominate, holding the number one spot. Fellow Sri Lankan Wanindu Hasaranga jumped 11 places to reach eighth, showcasing his growing impact. However, Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi faced a slight drop, slipping to 12th position, down by one rank. India’s Ravindra Jadeja also moved down to ninth place after a minor decline in performance.
In the ODI all-rounders’ rankings, Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai continues to lead at number one, reflecting his strong contributions with both bat and ball. Unfortunately, no Pakistani all-rounder has made it to the top 10, highlighting an ongoing concern for team balance and depth in this department.
While Babar Azam remains Pakistan’s standout performer in the ODI format, the absence of other Pakistani players—especially all-rounders—in the top ICC rankings underlines the need for improved performances and consistency ahead of future international series and ICC tournaments.