Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi has reclaimed the top spot in ICC ODI rankings after his impressive showing in the recent series against Australia. Along with Afridi, teammate Haris Rauf also jumped to a career-high 13th position in the rankings. Despite being demoted in their central contracts, Afridi and Rauf have proved their worth on the field, with Rauf also earning the Player of the Series award. Afridi's journey to the top has not been without setbacks, including a controversy during the T20 World Cup and losing the captaincy after one series loss. Rauf, on the other hand, had refused to play for Pakistan and his central contract was terminated before being restored.
Shaheen Afridi Regains ICC ODI Ranking Throne
Pakistan's fast-bowling spearhead Shaheen Afridi has regained the top spot in the ICC ODI rankings, reclaiming the mantle he held from October 2021 to August 2022. Afridi's ascent to the summit follows an impressive performance in the recent ODI series against Australia, where he captured six wickets at an average of 16.50.
Teammate Haris Rauf also made significant progress in the rankings, climbing to a career-high 13th position after claiming eight wickets in the series. Both Afridi and Rauf have demonstrated their class on the field, despite being downgraded in their central contracts. Rauf earned the Player of the Series award for his exceptional performances.
Afridi's Journey to the Top
Afridi's resurgence is the culmination of a remarkable journey filled with obstacles and triumphs. He first rose to prominence in 2018 and quickly established himself as one of the most exciting young bowlers in world cricket. Afridi's ability to generate both pace and swing made him a formidable force, and he soon became a key member of Pakistan's limited-overs setup.
However, setbacks have not been absent from Afridi's career. During the T20 World Cup in 2022, he was involved in a controversial incident involving Afghanistan batter Karim Janat. Afridi also lost the Pakistan ODI captaincy after a single series loss in 2023.
Rauf's Comeback
Rauf's journey to the top has been equally remarkable. The right-arm pacer made his international debut in 2020 and quickly impressed with his raw pace and wicket-taking ability. However, his career hit a snag in 2022 when he refused to play for Pakistan. As a result, his central contract was terminated.
Undeterred, Rauf continued to perform at the domestic level. His impressive performances eventually led to the restoration of his central contract and a recall to the national team. Rauf has since seized the opportunity, proving his worth as a genuine wicket-taker.
Top 5 FAQs
1. Why did Shaheen Afridi lose the ODI captaincy? Afridi lost the ODI captaincy after Pakistan suffered a series defeat against New Zealand in April 2023.
2. What is Haris Rauf's best bowling figure in ODIs? Rauf's best bowling figure in ODIs is 4/34, which he achieved against Australia in 2023.
3. Has Shaheen Afridi ever won a Player of the Series award in ODIs? No, Afridi has not yet won a Player of the Series award in ODIs.
4. What is the highest ODI ranking ever achieved by a Pakistani bowler? Waqar Younis is the highest-ranked Pakistani bowler in ODIs, having reached the top spot in 2000.
5. Who is the current coach of the Pakistan ODI team? Saqlain Mushtaq is the current coach of the Pakistan ODI team.
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