Hafeez the 2nd best in the world

Ajmal stays top in ODI bowlers’ rankings, Afridi placed ninth.

Mohammad Hafeez underlined his increasing importance to an in-form Pakistan side by storming to second position in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) player rankings for One-Day International (ODI) bowlers.

According to the ICC, the 31-year-old jumped six places and lies just 19 points behind teammate Saeed Ajmal. A strong performance in the ODI series against Bangladesh, which saw Hafeez take six wickets at an average of just 8.16, helped him improve his ranking.

Ajmal stays top of the list

Meanwhile, Ajmal did enough in the series to stay top with series figures of four for 52.

Shahid Afridi also maintained his position in the top 10 as he is placed ninth, while there were gains for fast-bowler Umar Gul, who rose three places to 26th.

Hafeez rises in all-rounders’ list as well

In addition to Hafeez’s superb bowling, useful contributions with the bat have earned him a place on the all-rounders’ rankings.

He now sits second, having overtaken Australia’s Shane Watson and is just 13 ratings points behind leader Shakibal Hasan, with Afridi placed fourth.

Umar Akmal takes giant strides

In the rankings for ODI batsmen, Umar Akmal, who has enjoyed a good run in his last two series against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, has climbed to tenth. In the ODI team rankings, Pakistan maintain their fifth place.

ODI bowlers 

Player           Country

1   S Ajmal       Pakistan

2   M Hafeez    Pakistan

3   D Vettori     New Zealand

4   G Swann     England

5   M Johnson   Australia

ODI all-rounders

Player            Country

1   Shakib         Bangladesh

2   M Hafeez    Pakistan

3   S Watson    Australia

4   S Afridi        Pakistan

5   J Kallis     South Africa

 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 8^th, 2011.