Islamabad, Feb 26: Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has had a significant impact on the latest ICC ODI rankings, with key players from both the batting and bowling departments suffering declines. The team’s lackluster showings, particularly against India and New Zealand, have led to a drop in rankings for several key players, highlighting the struggles of the squad on the global stage.
On the bowling front, Shaheen Afridi has seen a steep fall, slipping five places to rank ninth in the world. His struggles in the tournament, where he failed to deliver match-winning performances, have contributed to this drop. His fellow pacer Haris Rauf has also tumbled down the rankings, dropping six places to now sit at 22nd.
Naseem Shah, however, has managed to make a slight improvement but still remains outside the top 40, currently ranked 42nd. The only notable riser from Pakistan’s bowling lineup is mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed, whose performance against India has propelled him 26 places up the rankings, placing him at 49th.
Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana remains the top-ranked bowler despite not featuring in the Champions Trophy, while Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan and India’s Kuldeep Yadav round out the top three in the latest rankings update.
The batting rankings have not been any kinder to Pakistan. While Babar Azam continues to hold onto his No. 2 spot, his inconsistent form in the tournament puts him at risk of slipping further down the table. Fakhar Zaman, who has been dealing with injury concerns, has dropped three places to 17th, while Mohammad Rizwan’s underwhelming performances have seen him fall four spots to 20th. Meanwhile, India’s Shubman Gill remains the No. 1 ODI batter, followed closely by Babar, with Rohit Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen, and Virat Kohli making up the rest of the top five.
Pakistan’s disappointing Champions Trophy campaign has not only led to an early exit from the tournament but has also reflected poorly in the rankings. With the team likely to undergo a revamp, players will need to regain form quickly to re-establish Pakistan’s standing in world cricket.
