Sports Bulletin Report
Dubai (UAE): Bangladesh players Nigar Sultana and Sharmin Akhter have attained career-best positions in the ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings after some fine performances in their first two matches of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifier being played in Lahore.
Nigar and Sharmin, who had partnered in a 152-run third wicket stand that got their team off to an impressive start with a 178-run victory over Thailand, made progress in double figures in the latest weekly rankings that considers performances in matches completed till Monday.
Nigar’s Player of the Match effort of 101 in that match and a knock of 51 against Ireland, have lifted her 16 places to 17th position while Sharmin’s scores of 94 not out against Thailand and 24 versus Ireland see her gain 11 slots and reach 29th position.
Pakistan batters Sidra Amin, Aliya Riaz and Muneeba Ali have also made significant progress after helping win their first three matches. Sidra has moved up two places to joint-23rd after aggregating 112 runs, Aliya’s 140 runs so far see her advance 11 places to 28th while left-handed opener Muneeba is up nine places to 38th after scoring a total of 136 runs.
Thailand’s Natthakan Chantham has re-entered the rankings in 20th position while Ireland’s Amy Hunter (up six places to 34th) and Laura Delany (up two places to 44th), Scotland’s Kathryn Bryce (up 18 places to 43rd) and Chinelle Henry of the West Indies (up four places to 64th) are among the others to move up the batting list.
Hayley Matthews of the West Indies has advanced two slots to seventh position in the bowling rankings after the skipper grabbed 10 wickets in the three matches while Pakistan’s Nashra Sandhu (up two places to 14th) and captain Fatima Sana (up 15 places to 32nd) have progressed after taking six and seven wickets, respectively, in their first three matches.
Bangladesh’s Rabeya Khan (up seven places to 23rd) and Fahima Khatun (up three places to 48th), West Indies’ Karishma Ramharack (up three places to 30th) and Ireland all-rounder Orla Prendergast (up 14 places to 50th) have also made notable progress.
