Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi has overtaken Shakib Al Hasan to become no.1 ODI all-rounder in the recent ICC Rankings, announced on February 14.
A stunning century against Sri Lanka in Pallekele was the key performance that elevated Nabi to the pinnacle of the rankings at the age of 39 years and one month, making him the oldest to ever achieve the number one ODI all-rounder status, a record previously held by Tillkaratne Dilshan.
Nabi joins fellow teammates Rashid, Mujeeb in elite list
Nabi joins his fellow teammates, Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who have previously reached the top of the ICC rankings in different categories. Rashid has been ranked number one in both ODI and T20I bowling as well as in the ODI all-rounder category, while Mujeeb once held the position of the top T20I bowler.
Mohammad Nabi is the new King
Shakib Al Hasan's remarkable era in the ICC Rankings, featuring a continuous stretch of 1,739 days starting from May 7, 2019, which adds up to more than 11.5 years at the top of the ODI all-rounder rankings, has come to an end.
Shakib recently opted out of the ODI and T20I series against Sri Lanka due to an eye condition. Nonetheless, he was in excellent form, achieving the season's fastest fifty in the BBL.
Azmatullah Omarzai's outstanding 149 not out in the first ODI against Sri Lanka has seen him soar in the rankings, while Sri Lankan players Charith Asalanka, Pathum Nissanka, and Sadeera Samarawickrama have made notable advances after their recent performances.
The impressive bowling feats of Wanindu Hasaranga and Dilshan Madhushanka have been recognized as well, with both making their way up the rankings due to their spin and seam abilities, respectively.
Big boost for Nepal players
Also, Nepal's team celebrated a triumphant series over Canada, boosting the ICC rankings of several of their players. Team captain Rohit Paudel, along with Kushal Bhurtel and Lalit Rajbanshi, experienced an upswing in their rankings as they gear up for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2.
In T20I cricket, Australian players Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, and David Warner have climbed the rankings ladder thanks to their performances against the West Indies.
Adam Zampa's impressive five-wicket haul during the series has propelled him higher in the bowling rankings, whereas Marcus Stoinis has advanced to second place in the all-rounder rankings. Players from the West Indies, including Johson Charles, Sherfane Rutherford, and Andrew Russell, have also seen improvements in their rankings.
The Test cricket scene has also witnessed shifts, with South Africa's David Bedingham and New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra moving up in the batting rankings. New Zealand bowlers Kyle Jamieson and Matt Henry have made significant strides in the bowling rankings following their recent outings against South Africa.
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