Afghanistan moved above England in the latest ICC men’s ODI team rankings after defeating Zimbabwe to win the tri-series in Sharjah on Friday, October 23. The victory lifted Afghanistan to seventh place, while England slipped to eighth following defeats against Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka also improved its position, moving up to sixth in the updated standings. Afghanistan’s rise reflects its strong performance in the tournament, where a disciplined bowling display and a composed run chase secured the title and strengthened the team’s standing in international one-day cricket.
Afghanistan’s triumph over Zimbabwe was built on an effective performance with the ball, as the hosts were dismissed for 169. Captain Rashid Khan led the attack with three wickets, while Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mohammad Nabi and Bilal Sami picked up two wickets each. The bowling unit restricted Zimbabwe to a modest total, leaving Afghanistan with a manageable target. The collective effort ensured that Zimbabwe could not establish a substantial innings, putting Afghanistan in a favourable position before the chase began.
Afghanistan’s batters completed the chase comfortably, reaching the target in the 35th over. Ibrahim Zadran anchored the innings with an unbeaten 70 off 96 deliveries, striking four boundaries and a six. He received early support from Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who scored 36 as the pair put together a 68-run opening partnership. Zadran then combined with captain Rahmat Shah to add another 82 runs, keeping the chase on course and avoiding unnecessary pressure. His unbeaten innings provided stability and ensured Afghanistan crossed the finish line with overs to spare.
The tournament victory gave Afghanistan a timely boost as it continued to establish itself among the competitive sides in men’s ODI cricket. The team’s performance combined disciplined bowling with measured batting, allowing it to control the final against Zimbabwe. Rashid’s contribution with the ball and Zadran’s composed innings were central to the result, while the support provided by the other bowlers and batters helped maintain the team’s momentum throughout the match. Winning the tri-series also provided a positive outcome for Afghanistan ahead of its upcoming international assignments.
England’s fall to eighth place followed losses against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which affected its position in the latest rankings. The movement leaves Afghanistan ahead of England in the standings, marking a notable shift between the two teams. Sri Lanka’s rise to sixth further changed the order among the teams in the updated table. The rankings reflect recent results and underline how performances across international fixtures and tournaments can influence a side’s position, particularly when competing teams record contrasting outcomes over the same period.
Afghanistan’s climb to seventh place adds another milestone to its progress in international cricket. The tri-series win demonstrated the team’s ability to defend a modest total and chase confidently when required, with contributions across its bowling and batting units. For England, the slide to eighth adds to a difficult period in ODI cricket after consecutive defeats, while Sri Lanka’s improvement provides a positive result from its recent performances. Afghanistan will now look to build on the tournament success and maintain its upward movement in the ICC rankings.