Afghanistan Overtakes Bangladesh in ICC ODI Rankings

Afghanistan has made significant strides in the ICC Men's ODI rankings, overtaking Bangladesh to move into 8th place after winning the three-match series 2-1 in Sharjah. This marks Afghanistan’s third consecutive ODI series win, having previously defeated Ireland and South Africa in recent months.

In the final match of the series last night, Afghanistan successfully chased down Bangladesh's target of 244 runs, securing a 5-wicket victory with 10 balls to spare. The series win was sealed with a six from Omarzai, leading Afghanistan to a commanding position in the rankings.

As a result of this victory, Afghanistan's points have increased to 85, allowing them to surpass Bangladesh, who now find themselves ranked 9th, despite having the same number of rating points—85. However, Bangladesh's position is slightly behind Afghanistan due to the decimal point in the rankings calculation.

Before the series began, Bangladesh had 86 rating points and was ranked 8th, while Afghanistan had 84 points and were ranked 9th. With two wins in the series, Afghanistan’s rating improved, and they moved up to 8th, while Bangladesh, after losing the series, slipped to 9th.

Afghanistan’s consistent performances in recent series have contributed to their rise in the rankings. With three consecutive series victories, including the 2-1 win over Bangladesh, Afghanistan has shown significant improvement in their ODI standing.

The rankings are now a reflection of this strong run of form, with Afghanistan's ascendancy further underlining their growing stature in world cricket.