Shaheen Shah Afridi has achieved the top position in the latest ICC ODI Bowling Rankings, marking the first time that the Pakistani fast bowler has reached the pinnacle in this format.
Afridi is currently the joint leading wicket-taker in the 2023 World Cup, sharing the position with Australia’s spinner Adam Zampa, as both have taken 16 wickets each.
During a recent match against Bangladesh in Kolkata on October 31, Afridi claimed three more wickets, contributing to Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals.
Notably, he also became the fastest fast bowler to reach 100 wickets in one-day international cricket during the World Cup 2023.
In the ICC ODI Bowling Rankings, Australia’s Josh Hazlewood occupies the second spot, while India’s Mohammed Siraj is ranked third.
Pakistan is scheduled to face New Zealand on Saturday in Bengaluru and will conclude their group campaign against England in Kolkata on November 11. The 1992 champions, with two wins on their record, will need favorable results to remain in contention for the tournament.
Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, expressed optimism about his team’s chances of making it to the World Cup semi-finals despite the challenging circumstances. He stated, “We are trying to win our next two matches, and let’s see where we stand. We will take a lot of confidence into those matches.” Currently, Pakistan has six points and occupies the fifth position in the 10-nation table.
