Several Bangladesh women players make progress in ICC ODI rankings
Following the loss to Pakistan in the final match of the World Cup Qualifier in Lahore, Bangladesh had to wait for the outcome of the final match between West Indies and Thailand.
After securing their spot in the upcoming Women's World Cup, Bangladesh's female cricketers received more good news with the latest ICC Women's ODI Rankings. Several players achieved their career-high rating points in both bowling and batting. In the newly released rankings, three Bangladeshi bowlers—Nahida Akter, Rabea Khan, and Marufa Akter—have reached their career-best ratings, while in batting, Sharmin Akter, Ritu Moni, and Marufa Akter achieved their highest-ever points.
Following the loss to Pakistan in the final match of the World Cup Qualifier in Lahore, Bangladesh had to wait for the outcome of the final match between West Indies and Thailand. West Indies managed to chase down Thailand's target of 167 runs in just 10.5 overs, but Bangladesh clinched the World Cup ticket by the narrowest of margins, with a net run rate difference of just 0.013. As a result, Nigar Sultana's team secured their place in the World Cup, which will be held in India this September-October.
In the third match against Scotland, left-arm spinner Nahida Akter took 4 wickets and moved up two spots to 10th position with 618 rating points, surpassing her previous best of 616 points, which she achieved last week. Although her rating points reached a new high, Nahida's highest-ever ranking remains 7th, which she achieved in 2014.
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Rabea Khan, the leg-spinner who took 6 wickets during the Qualifiers, moved up one place to 22nd with 512 points, marking her best-ever rating and position. Another leg-spinner, Fahima Khatun, climbed two spots to 46th.
Pacer Marufa Akter made a significant jump of 11 places, reaching a career-high 49th with 392 rating points. In batting, Marufa also made progress, advancing six spots to 85th, with a career-best 317 rating points.
Among Bangladesh's batters, only captain Nigar Sultana is ranked higher than Marufa, though Nigar has dropped two places to 19th. Ritu Moni, another standout, moved up 15 spots to 73rd with her highest-ever rating of 339 points.
In global rankings, West Indies' Hayley Matthews, who scored 70 off 29 balls against Thailand, moved up two places to 5th in batting. South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt remains at the top of the batting rankings, while England's Sophie Ecclestone is number one in bowling, and Australia's Ash Gardner holds the top spot in the all-rounder rankings.
