Pakistan rises to eighth position in ODI rankings after series win in Sri Lanka

Hafeez, Shehzad and Azhar ascend batting rankings; Dilshan reaches 10,000 run landmark as Senanayake climbs bowling rankings

Pakistan has moved into eighth position in the ICC ODI Team Rankings after its 3-2 series victory in Sri Lanka in the five-match series which concluded in Hambantota on Sunday. Azhar Ali’s men have advanced to 90 points, two ahead of the West Indies, and now has seventh-placed Bangladesh firmly in its sights.

 As a consequence of the series defeat, Sri Lanka remains in fifth place but has dropped three rankings points which means that sixth-placed England has an opportunity to gain ground on Angelo Mathews’ men when it faces Australia in a five-match ODI series from 3-13 September.

 Mohammad Hafeez was the highest run-getter in the series and his tally of 273 runs in five games (including a highest score of 103, as well as innings of 70 and 54) has propelled the 34-year-old three places to 29th in the ICC Player Rankings for ODI Batsmen. There were also notable gains for his team-mates Ahmed Shehzad (up five places to 30th) and skipper Azhar (up eight places to a career high 42nd).

 Despite scoring two half centuries in the final two games of the series, and in doing so passing the landmark 10,000 run mark in his 319th ODI on Sunday, which the hosts won by 165 runs, Sri Lanka’s Tillakaratne Dilshan has dropped one place to sixth on 781 points and is now five points behind Black Caps’ Kane Williamson. Mathews has also dropped down to 21st place, however there were positive movements for Lahiru Thirimanne (up three places to 36th) and Kusal Perera (up nine places to a career high 64th).

 The top 10 remains unchanged which means that South Africa’s AB de Villiers remains in first position on 889 points.

In the ICC Players Rankings for ODI Bowlers, the top 10 remains unchanged though Pakistan’s Mohammad Irfan has improved his ranking by a place and is now level with his team-mate Mohammad Hafeez in 16thplace after claiming four wickets in the series for 257 runs. Another upward mover for the visitors in the aftermath of the series was Yasir Shah who has vaulted 44 places to a career high 97th.

 For Sri Lanka, Sachithra Senanayake’s three for 39 in his solitary outing on Sunday has helped him move up three places to 18th, while Thisara Perera has moved up seven places to 75th.

Shakib retains his number one spot in the ICC Player Rankings for ODI All-rounders on 418 points, but he has extended his lead to 39 points over Dilshan who is four points ahead of his team-mate Mathews. Hafeez lies in fourth place on 368 points.

In the next ODI series, Zimbabwe will host third-placed New Zealand with the first of three ODIs due to start in Harare on 2 August.

 – Pix by Shantha Rathnayaka