Pakistan Shines! Major Breakthroughs in ICC ODI Rankings

Pakistan cricket enjoyed one of its most uplifting weeks of the year as several national stars surged up the latest ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings. With standout performances against Sri Lanka contributing heavily, both Pakistan’s batting and bowling charts reflected significant movement—highlighting promising developments ahead of a busy international season.

Batting: Babar Azam Leads Pakistan’s Charge Up the Rankings

Pakistan's premier batter Babar Azam delivered yet another reminder of his world-class calibre. His unbeaten century in Rawalpindi—an elegant 102 marked by trademark timing and control—helped him climb one position to sixth place in the ICC ODI Batting Rankings. Though no longer world No. 1, Babar’s rise reaffirms his status as one of the most reliable white-ball batters in international cricket.

Two other key performers in the Sri Lanka series made noteworthy progress as well:

• Mohammad Rizwan rose to 22nd, backed by two composed half-centuries.

• Fakhar Zaman climbed to 26th, also scoring twin fifties and displaying his typical aggression at the top of the order.

Both batters played crucial roles in Pakistan’s ODI success and their ranking improvements reflect their consistency.

However, not all news was positive. Young opener Saim Ayub, who has shown flashes of brilliance, slipped to 38th after a quiet run of scores.

Latest ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings

Bowling: Abrar Ahmed Breaks Into the Top 10

The biggest Pakistani headline of the rankings update belongs to Abrar Ahmed, who achieved the first top-10 ODI bowling ranking of his career. The leg-spinner jumped an impressive 11 places to ninth after his vital three-wicket spell in the second ODI against Sri Lanka.

With Pakistan working to establish a long-term spin option, Abrar’s rise offers much-needed optimism. His control, variation, and temperament under pressure have quickly made him one of Pakistan’s most exciting prospects in limited-overs cricket.

Among fast bowlers, Haris Rauf made a subtle yet significant improvement, rising five places to 23rd. His pace and wicket-taking ability continue to keep him a regular threat in white-ball cricket.

However, the update wasn’t as kind to Pakistan’s new ODI captain Shaheen Afridi, who slipped five positions to 21st, and Naseem Shah, who dropped to 36th. On the positive side, young pacer Mohammad Waseem climbed an impressive 20 spots to reach 64th, making the most out of his limited opportunities.

Latest ICC Men’s ODI Bowling Rankings

A Promising Outlook for Pakistan's ODI Future

Beyond individual accomplishments, Pakistan’s collective rise in the ICC ODI rankings paints an encouraging picture. With seasoned campaigners performing strongly and emerging talents making rapid strides, the team’s progress comes at an ideal time.

Babar Azam’s return to form, Rizwan’s stability, Fakhar’s aggression, and Abrar Ahmed’s breakthrough with the ball all signal a growing sense of balance within the squad. Even with a few notable dips—particularly for Shaheen and Naseem—the overall trend is upward.

As Pakistan prepares for a demanding international calendar filled with bilateral series and major tournaments, this rankings boost offers both confidence and momentum. For fans and selectors alike, the latest ICC update serves as reassurance that the team’s core players are heading in the right direction, and the foundation for a strong ODI resurgence is beginning to take shape.