Ajmal rises to third spot in ICC rankings

LAHORE - Pakistans off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has made a giant 16-point leap to rise to third spot in the International Cricket Councuil (ICC) One-day International (ODI) bowling rankings. Ajmal, who broke into the top three for the first time in his career following a six-wicket haul in the series win against West Indies, is just five points behind Price at 673 points. Saeeds rise means the top four spots are now occupied by spinners with Englands Graeme Swann sitting in fourth position. Bowling charts remain bereft of Indian presence with Daniel Vettori retaining the top spot followed by Zimbabwes left-arm spinner Ray Price. The 33-year-olds jump also means he has now become Pakistans highest-ranked bowler with captain Shahid Afridi dropping out of the top 10 after a disappointing series. Afridi, who managed just two wickets, has slipped five places to 14th position. In the absence of any international exposure after the culmination of the World Cup on April 2, most of the team players remained static in the latest ICC player rankings for ODIs. While Virat Kohli continues to be the top Indian batsman at number eight with 733 points, skipper M.S. Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar follow the youngster at nine and ten respectively. West Indies opener Lendl Simmons has surged 150 places to 67th position after finishing as the leading run-getter in the recently concluded series against Pakistan. The West Indies bowlers have also made good progress in the latest rankings with 25-year-old Bishoo, who finished as the leading wicket-taker in the series with 11 wickets, rocketing 114 places to sit just outside the top 100 in 116th position. In the team rankings India still holds the number two spot followed closely by Sri Lanka. Australia, though, still remain atop with 129 points.

ePaper - Nawaiwaqt