Sikandar Raza
Three Zimbabwean batsmen recently moved up the ladder in the latest world rankings released by the International Cricket Council, despite their 2-3 ODI defeat to lowly Afghanistan.
Sikandar Raza moved a staggering 14 places up the pecking order to 40th in the world, while Sean Williams is now placed 44th, after moving seven places up. Craig Ervine was not left behind – now placed 61st in the world after moving 19 places.
Williams, who did not bat in the first ODI, was Zimbabwe’s highest run scorer in the Series with a total of 153 runs including 102 in the fifth game. Raza also did not bat in the first match, but ended up with a total of 119 runs – with highest score coming in the fourth game, where he scored 86 runs with Ervine on his part managing 75 runs with a highest score of 43 runs.
Afghanistan batsmen were enviously the biggest beneficiaries, with Ali Zadran managing to break into the top 100 after vaulting 26 places up to 93rd in the world. However, their highest-placed batsman is Mohammad Nabi, now on a career high of 47th having moved 26 places up the ladder.
The rankings were updated following the conclusion of the five ODI Series between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan and South Africa and India. Chevron Tendai Chatara, who missed the Afghani Series through injury, dropped seven places down the bowlers’ pecking order, and is now placed 41st in the world, down from 34th position.
Zimbabwe stayed in 10th place on the ODI rankings, a fraction ahead of Ireland, with Afghanistan one point behind following their historic Series win over a Test playing country.
The Zimbabwean team hopes to make things better when they tour Bangladesh in three One-Day International matches on November 9, 11, and 12Â and two Twenty20 International matches on November 13 and 15.
Post published in: Cricket