Scorching form at CWC qualifier shoots Pooran, Raza higher in ODI rankings

Dubai, June 28 A pair of centuries to Nicholas Pooran and the imperious all-round form of Sikandar Raza have shaken up the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings following the group stage of the Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
Pooran has jumped 13 places into the top 20 of the ODI Batting Rankings following two centuries for West Indies at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023.
The Windies batsman was the second-highest scorer during the group stage of the Cricket World Cup Qualifier with 296 runs, including 115 against Nepal and 104* before the Super Over defeat to the Netherlands, and now climbs to equal 19th in the latest ODI batting rankings.
The white-ball wonder thundered the most sixes in the group stage with 15, and now looms as crucial to the West Indies’ hopes of snatching a spot at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India later this year.
Zimbabwe star Sikandar Raza is the other big mover near the top end of the men’s ODI batting rankings, rising seven places to 27th following three powerful innings in the Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
The 37-year-old opened the campaign with 102* against Netherlands, then backed it up with 68 from the West Indies and 48 against the USA, to have the sixth-most runs in the tournament despite only batting three times in four matches.
Raza has had just as much impact with his off-spin and is also among the top six wicket-takers at the Cricket World Cup Qualifier with eight scalps.
The dazzling form with both bat and ball has Raza climbing two spots to third in the ODI All-Rounder Rankings, only behind Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh in top spot and Mohammad Nabi from Afghanistan.
Scott Edwards’ three fifties from three innings at the Cricket World Cup Qualifier pushes the Netherlands skipper 24 places higher to 40th in the ODI batting rankings, while the tournament’s current top run-scorer Sean Williams of Zimbabwe climbs 10 spots to 43rd.
Wanindu Hasaranga equalled Pakistan great Waqar Younis’ record for the most consecutive five-wicket hauls in ODIs with three bags in the opening three matches, and now reaps the rewards in the latest rankings.
The Sri Lanka spinner was also the leading wicket-taker in the group stage of the Cricket World Cup Qualifier with 18 scalps from four matches, and rises two spots to 24th in the ODI Bowling Rankings.