Sikandar Raza ICC Rankings

Australia came out on top in their recent one-day international series against Zimbabwe. Still, there were positives for the African side to take away from the contest: Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza moved up to second in the ICC all-rounder rankings.

Sikandar Raza ICC Rankings: Can He Top the All-Rounder List?

The recently concluded three-match ODI series between Zimbabwe and Australia had an impact on more than just the team standings. It also shook up the individual all-rounder rankings. Sikandar Raza has put himself within reach of the top spot in the ICC ODI all-rounder rankings. Following an impressive series, the Zimbabwe captain now sits second on the list, having overtaken Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai remains out in front with a comfortable 61-point lead. Raza has managed to close the gap, although Omarzai still holds a sizeable advantage over the Zimbabwean.

Sikandar Raza finished the three-match ODI series against Australia as the leading run-scorer, amassing 183 runs across the three games and chipping in with three wickets. His batting performances lifted the experienced campaigner five places to 24th in the ODI batting rankings. In the updated all-rounder standings, meanwhile, Raza climbed to second with 276 rating points.

Reaching No.1 in any of the ICC’s individual rankings is a mark of a player’s quality. If Raza can eventually take the top spot among ODI all-rounders, it would add another milestone to an already successful career. Getting there will take time, however. Omarzai not only has a healthy points cushion but also shows no signs of slowing down, with age on his side at 26. Even so, the door remains open for Raza to mount a challenge for the No.1 ranking.

Sikandar Raza’s Position in the ICC Rankings

A closer look at the ODI all-rounder standings reveals an intriguing picture. Azmatullah Omarzai has some breathing room at the top, but the chasing pack, now led by Sikandar Raza in the ICC rankings, is tightly bunched. If Raza can keep piling on the runs at his current rate in upcoming matches, he could start to pull clear of the players behind him. The table below shows the standings following the latest rankings update, as of September 22:

Zimbabwe’s next 50-over internationals are scheduled for October, when they will travel to the UAE for a tri-series against Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Raza will have the chance to improve his ranking and go head-to-head with both Omarzai and Miraz. All three players currently occupying the top spots in the ODI all-rounder rankings are expected to feature in the series.