ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s lethal pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi climbed to the top of ICC’s ODI Bowling Rankings on Wednesday after impressive performances in the ongoing World Cup tournament in India.
Afridi, 23, is the joint-highest wicket-taker in the ongoing World Cup with Australia’s Adam Zampa. The Pakistani pacer impressed with the ball against Bangladesh in Kolkata on Tuesday to return figures of 3-23, helping his team beat their opponents by seven wickets.
Afridi also returned figures of 3/45 against South Africa in their World Cup clash on Oct. 27 while he took a fifer in Pakistan’s match against Australia on Oct. 20. Against Bangladesh, Afridi became the fastest bowler to take 100 ODI wickets, achieving the feat in only his 51st ODI.
“This is the first time Shaheen has topped the bowler’s rankings in any of the formats,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement, adding that he jumped nine spots to achieve the ranking.
Afridi’s rise to the top reflects Pakistan’s dominance in the 50-over format, as skipper Babar Azam currently leads the ODI Batters’ Rankings. Azam has been sitting at the top of the ODI batter’s rankings since he climbed to the top in April 2021.
“This the first time since the introduction of the ICC ODI Player Rankings that a Pakistan batter and bowler dominate the rankings at the same time,” the PCB said.
Pakistan’s win over Bangladesh kept the green shirts’ slim chances of qualifying for the semifinal stages of the World Cup alive. Azam’s side lost four consecutive matches to India, Australia, Afghanistan and South Africa after winning their opening two games against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka.
Pakistan face New Zealand on Nov. 4 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. They must win their remaining clashes against the Kiwis and England to stand a chance of qualifying for the final four.
Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi tops ODI Bowling Rankings for the first time
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Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi tops ODI Bowling Rankings for the first time
- Shaheen Shah Afridi is the joint-highest wicket-taker in the ongoing World Cup with Australia’s Adam Zampa
- This is the first time a Pakistani batter and bowler top the ODI rankings at the same time, confirms PCB
Barcelona blitz Athletic Bilbao 5-0 to book place in Super Cup Final
- In a breathtaking 16-minute spell, the Catalans turned uncertainty into complete control, racing into a four-goal lead before the interval
- Raphinha scores a brace with goals on either side of half-time
JEDDAH: It did not look like the easiest opening 20 minutes for Barcelona in Jeddah during their encounter with Athletic Bilbao. Yet in a breathtaking 16-minute spell, the Catalans turned uncertainty into complete control, racing into a four-goal lead before the interval.
More than 50,000 fans packed the Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah to witness the spectacle, although the likes of Marcus Rashford and Lamine Yamal were rested, allowing opportunities for youngsters like Roony Bardghji and Fermin Lopez.
Lopez would emerge as one of the standout performers of the night. While his threat inside the box was evident, it was his creativity that truly shone in front of the Jeddawi crowd.
Barcelona broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute. A sweeping move from side to side ended with Raphinha finding Bardghji on the right, whose cutback was met by Lopez before being laid off for Ferran Torres to finish calmly for 1-0.
Just eight minutes later, an exquisite backheel from Pedri released Raphinha down the left flank once again, with his low cross this time finding López to double Barcelona’s advantage.
Lopez contributed to his third goal of the night minutes later, this time slipping Bardghji down the right. The Kuwaiti-born winger skipped past Adama Boiro before striking at goal, with Unai Simon mishandling the ball as it trickled over the line.
The Blaugrana showed no signs of slowing down. Raphina finally got on the scoresheet in emphatic fashion with a belter into the top corner in the 38th minute.
To the surprise of many, neither side made any changes at the break. That decision quickly proved costly for Bilbao, as Raphinha struck again early in the second half, once more exploiting space down the flanks to extend the lead to 5-0.
With the contest beyond reach, Athletic head coach Ernesto Valverde rang the changes, making five substitutions to give minutes to his squad.
Barcelona, meanwhile, eased off to conserve energy ahead of Sunday’s final. To the delight of the crowd, both Rashford and Yamal were introduced, with Yamal receiving a warm standing ovation upon his entrance in the 72nd minute.
The emphatic victory marks Barcelona’s second consecutive five-goal display in the Spanish Super Cup, following last year’s 5-2 triumph over Real Madrid in the final.
The second semi-final takes place on Thursday, as Real Madrid face Atlético Madrid, with the winner set to meet Barcelona in Sunday’s final.
