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Afghanistan’s Gurbaz breaks into top 10 ODI batters in ICC rankings

Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz has become the first Afghan player to break into the top 10 ODI batters, according to the latest rankings announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Gurbaz, who secured 692 points, is now ranked eighth among the world’s leading ODI batsmen.

His ascent in the rankings follows an impressive series against South Africa, where he scored a century and a fifty. At just 23 years old, Gurbaz has already amassed seven ODI centuries, the most by any Afghan player at his age.

Previously, Afghanistan’s highest-ranked ODI batter was Ibrahim Zadran, who had reached 12th place in the ICC rankings.

In the ICC’s bowling rankings, Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan has also made waves, climbing to third place. Khan took seven wickets in two matches during the recent series against South Africa. However, he had been sidelined after the 2023 World Cup due to back surgery, with the South Africa series marking his return to ODI cricket.