Nepal stars make ODI rankings gains after back-to-back wins in League 2
Dubai, May 20
A string of impressive performances in the ongoing ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 has propelled several Nepal players up the latest ICC Men's ODI Player Rankings.
Nepal secured consecutive victories over the USA and Scotland last week on the road to next year's ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, with their bowlers leading the way. Experienced all-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee was a standout, claiming a four-wicket haul against the USA.
The 26-year-old's efforts earned him a jump of three spots to 79th overall on the ODI bowlers' list, while his all-round performances saw him rise three places to 25th among ODI all-rounders.
Nepal's spin duo also made gains, with Sandeep Lamichhane moving up six rungs to equal 36th and Lalit Rajbanshi climbing 16 places to equal 53rd on the latest ODI bowlers' rankings.
Despite these movements, Afghanistan all-rounder Rashid Khan continues to dominate the ODI bowlers' rankings with a commanding 705 rating points, while his teammate Azmatullah Omarzai remains the No. 1-ranked all-rounder in ODIs.
Scotland's in-form Brandon McMullen has also made notable progress, moving up two spots to sixth overall in the all-rounder list following a career-best 73 against Nepal. That innings additionally helped McMullen climb six places to 53rd among ODI batters.
Nepal's batting efforts have not gone unnoticed either, with Saiteja Mukkamalla advancing five spots to 61st and Aasif Sheikh rising seven positions to equal 86th in the updated ODI batters' rankings.
At the top of the ODI batting charts, New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell continues to hold the No.1 spot, followed by India's Virat Kohli. Ibrahim Zadran, Rohit Sharma, and Shubman Gill complete the top five, with a potential shakeup expected when India and Afghanistan clash in the three-match ODI series next month.
Nepal's recent surge in League 2 underscores the team's growing competitiveness and the emergence of new talent making their mark on the global stage.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Nepal's progress in ODI cricket is remarkable. Sandeep Lamichhane moving up to 36th shows the spin tradition is alive and well. But I worry about batting depth – need more consistency from the top order against stronger sides.
As someone who grew up watching Nepal play in domestic Indian tournaments, this makes me proud! The spin duo of Lamichhane and Rajbanshi is truly world-class. However, I feel the board needs to invest more in batting infrastructure. We can't rely only on bowlers to win matches.
Kya baat hai! Nepal ka cricket kitna aage aa gaya hai! 😊 Aasif Sheikh aur Saiteja Mukkamalla ka rankings mein upar jaana bahut achha lag raha hai. India aur Nepal dono hi cricket mein progress kar rahe hain – proud moment for the subcontinent!
Impressive stuff from Nepal. Beating USA and Scotland back-to-back in League 2 is no small feat. The rankings gains for Airee, Lamichhane, and Rajbanshi are well deserved. Will be interesting to see if they can sustain this momentum against stronger teams.
So proud of our neighbours! Nepal's rise in ODI rankings is inspiring. But I sincerely hope the cricket boards in South Asia focus on player welfare – these bowlers are doing wonders despite limited resources. Dipendra Singh Airee is a true all-rounder talent! 🌟
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