Rahmanullah Gurbaz has made history by becoming the first Afghanistan batter to break into the top 10 of the ICC men’s ODI batting rankings. His incredible performance in Afghanistan’s maiden bilateral ODI series against South Africa played a key role in this achievement.
In the three-match series, Afghanistan shocked the cricket world by securing a 2-1 series victory over the Proteas. Gurbaz, Afghanistan’s wicket-keeper batter, was instrumental in this historic win, delivering two standout performances with the bat. His contributions helped cement Afghanistan’s growing status on the international stage.
In the first ODI, Gurbaz smashed a brilliant century, propelling Afghanistan to a commanding total of 311 runs. Although he got out for a duck in the second game, Gurbaz rebounded in the series decider, scoring a gritty 89 off 94 balls and pushing Afghanistan to a competitive total.
As a result of Gurbaz’s stellar performances, the latest ICC ODI rankings update acknowledged his efforts. He climbed 10 spots to reach 8th place with a rating of 692, making him the first Afghan batter to break into the top 10. Before him, Ibrahim Zadran held the highest rank among Afghan batters, reaching 12th position.
This milestone is a testament to Afghanistan’s rapid rise in international cricket, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz emerging as one of the brightest stars. The series win over South Africa further highlights Afghanistan’s transformation from an underdog team to a competitive force capable of challenging top-tier cricketing nations. With players like Gurbaz leading the charge, Afghanistan continues to grow in strength and stature on the world stage.
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