DUBAI: West Indian all-rounder Chris Gayle has slipped to third place in the latest ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen after a disappointing one-day cricket series against Pakistan. He had moved up to second off the back of an excellent ICC Champions Trophy in India in October/November but the series in Pakistan was less fruitful for him. In four innings he scored 57 runs at average of 14.25, much below his usual high standards.Gayle’s loss is Kevin Pietersen’s gain, however, as the England batsman moves up to second position as a result of Gayle’s demotion, while Michael Hussey remains firm in the top spot.
Other big movers in the top 20 include West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul who, despite being on losing team, had a good series personally and has moved up eight places to the 20th position.
Meanwhile, Shahriar Nafees has become the fifth batsman in the world to score 1000 runs in 2006, along with Gayle and the Sri Lankan trio of Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Sanath Jayasuriya.
Nafees is the first Bangladesh player ever to achieve that feat and has managed to retain his place in the 19th spot in the ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen in the process. One player to slip down the list is Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq. He has fallen three places to 18th spot on the ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen. Pakistan paceman Rana Naved-ul-Hasan has moved up seven places to 12th position in the Player Rankings for ODI bowlers following the series against Brian Lara’s side. In four ODIs, he took 11 wickets at an average of 11.81, economy rate of 3.76 runs per over and a strike rate better than a wicket every 19 balls.
Despite winning the series, Pakistan slipped one place on the ICC ODI Championship. It now sits in fourth spot, below New Zealand. The Black Caps begin a five-match ODI series at home to Sri Lanka on 28 December.
South Africa’s Shaun Pollock still tops ICC Player Rankings for ODI all-rounders, clear of Gayle in second and Jayasuriya in third.
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