Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal has rocketed to the top of the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI bowlers following an impressive series performance against Sri Lanka in the United Arab Emirates.
Ajmal took 11 wickets at an average of just 16.27 and an economy-rate of less than 4.00 to help his side to a 4-1 series win. That effort won him five places on the latest rankings and puts him at the top, just ahead of two other spinner, Daniel Vettori of New Zealand and England’s Graeme Swann.
In what has proven to be a very successful series for members of the Pakistan attack, two other bowlers – Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez – have shot into the top 10 with Afridi now occupying seventh position and Hafeez one place further back.
And it’s not just the Pakistan bowlers who are making moves up the rankings. With an average of 53.66 for the series, Umar Akmal has gained six places on the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen and now sits in 11th spot. There is no change, however, in the top 10 of the batting chart with South Africa’s Hashim Amla still leading the way followed by his team-mate AB de Villiers in second.
