Afghanistan Rise to Sixth in ODI Rankings, Their Best-Ever Position, Passing Sri Lanka
Afghanistan have made new history in one-day cricket. They have risen to sixth in the ICC ODI rankings, passing Sri Lanka. It is their highest position in this format. Former world champions Sri Lanka have dropped to seventh.
Afghanistan have enjoyed a strong run in 50-over cricket recently. Last August they won a five-match series in Ireland 4-0.
They then won a tri-series in the United Arab Emirates involving Bangladesh and Zimbabwe without losing a match. In the final in Sharjah, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets to secure the title.
Captain Rashid Khan was player of the series in that tri-series. The leg-spinner took 11 wickets across the competition.
Afghanistan also dominated against Bangladesh in the tri-series. They bowled Bangladesh out for 160 and reached the target in just 35.3 overs.
Afghanistan have now won 96 of the 191 ODIs they have played, with a win-loss ratio of 1.09. They had already passed teams such as Bangladesh, England and the West Indies in the rankings, and have now moved ahead of Sri Lanka as well.
India retain top spot in the ODI rankings. The next four places are held, in order, by New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan and Australia. In the T20 rankings, England are top, with India second and Australia third.
