Salman Agha and Abrar Ahmed Reach Career-Best ICC ODI Rankings Following Strong Performances Against South Africa and Sri Lanka

Pakistan cricketers Salman Agha and Abrar Ahmed have achieved career-best positions in the ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings following strong performances in recent home series against South Africa and Sri Lanka.

Salman Agha’s unbeaten 105 off 87 balls in the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi, combined with scores of 69 and 5 not out in the preceding series against South Africa, propelled him up 14 spots to 16th in the batting rankings. He is now Pakistan’s second-highest-ranked batter in ODIs after captain Babar Azam, who holds seventh place.

Spinner Abrar Ahmed also made significant gains, taking three wickets for 53 runs and four for 27 against South Africa, moving up 17 places to 20th among bowlers. He is now just four places behind Pakistan’s leading ODI bowler, Shaheen Shah Afridi, who ranks 16th.

Other notable movements in the batting rankings include Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka (up to sixth), South Africa’s Quinton de Kock (up four places to 15th), Pakistan’s Saim Ayub (up 18 places to 35th), and South Africa’s Matthew Breetzke (up eight places to 49th). In bowling, Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga rose to ninth, Asitha Fernando moved to 25th, Pakistan’s Haris Rauf climbed to 28th, and Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane reached 48th.

In the ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings, India’s Shubman Gill gained eight positions to 22nd after scores of 46 and 29 not out against Australia. New Zealand’s Tim Robinson moved up 18 spots to 23rd, and West Indies’ Rovman Powell advanced four places to 30th following the fourth match of their series, which New Zealand currently leads 2-1.

These updates highlight the rise of emerging talent and the impact of strong performances in recent international series on the global rankings.