KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghanistan’s national cricket team has reached its highest-ever position in the ICC Men’s ODI rankings, climbing to seventh place as of May 4, 2025 — a significant leap that places it ahead of cricketing powerhouses like England and the West Indies.
According to the latest figures from the International Cricket Council, Afghanistan now holds a rating of 91 after playing 25 One Day Internationals (ODIs), accumulating 2,279 points. This marks a notable rise compared to recent years: the team finished ninth in 2024 and tenth in 2023, demonstrating steady progress in performance and consistency on the international stage.
Afghanistan now sits just behind South Africa and Pakistan, while surpassing teams with deeper histories in international cricket, such as England (eighth, 84 rating), West Indies (ninth, 83), and Bangladesh (tenth, 76).
Cricket analysts attribute the team’s improvement to strong leadership, a more professional domestic circuit, and standout performances by key players in both bilateral series and ICC tournaments. The rise also comes amid ongoing domestic investments in first-class competitions like the Ahmad Shah Abdali Tournament, which continues to produce top-level talent.
At the top of the ODI rankings is India, with a commanding rating of 124, followed by New Zealand and Australia, both with 109 points. Afghanistan’s rating of 91 keeps it firmly in contention for Champions Trophy qualification and other major ICC events.
The ICC’s current rankings reflect not just win-loss records but also the strength of the opposition and consistency over time — an area where Afghanistan has made quiet but decisive gains over the past two years.
In 2024, Afghanistan’s national cricket team achieved a significant milestone by reaching eighth place in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings, marking its highest position to date. This advancement was a notable improvement from previous years, where the team had been ranked ninth in 2023 and tenth in 2022. The team’s consistent performance and victories against higher-ranked opponents contributed to this rise in the rankings.
