Afghanistan Cracks Top Six in ICC ODI Rankings After Passing Sri Lanka

Afghanistan has reached sixth place in the ICC ODI team rankings, marking the highest position in the team's history and pushing Sri Lanka down to seventh. Both teams hold 94 rating points, but Afghanistan sits ahead on decimal calculations following recent wins. India leads the rankings with 115 points, followed by New Zealand at 109, South Africa at 104, Pakistan at 104, and Australia at 5th with 102 points.

Recent Wins

Afghanistan's rise stems from strong play in recent months. The team beat Ireland 4-0 away in August 2026, after an opening match was washed out by rain. During the fourth ODI of that series, Sediqullah Atal scored 143 runs and Ibrahim Zadran made 107 runs in a 231-run partnership to help secure a 42-run win with a team total of 343. Next, the team won an ODI tri-series in the UAE against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe without losing a match. Against Bangladesh, Afghanistan bowled them out for 160 runs and chased the target in 35.3 overs with three wickets down. In the final against Zimbabwe, the team restricted opponents to 169 runs in 43.3 overs and chased it down by seven wickets, aided by an unbeaten 70 from Ibrahim Zadran.

Individual Milestones

Rashid Khan took 11 wickets across three matches in the tri-series to win player of the series. The final also marked Rashid Khan's 250th international match for Afghanistan, making him the second player to reach this milestone after Mohammad Nabi. Nabi took two wickets in that same final to complete 300 international wickets. Ibrahim Zadran earned player of the match in the final, while captain Rahmat Shah contributed 43 runs and Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored 36.

Context

International cricket rankings update regularly based on recent match results and the strength of opposing teams. Teams earn rating points for every victory, meaning strong performances against established cricket nations help climbing teams secure higher positions. Afghanistan made its international debut in 2009 and has since played 191 ODIs, winning 96 matches.