Mustafizur, Santner attain career-best ODI rankings

Dubai [UAE], Jan.1 (ANI): Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman and New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner have attained career-best ICC rankings after creditable performances in a three-match One-Day International series, which the Black Caps went on to win by 3-0 at home. Mustafizur, the ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year for 2016, has moved up 19 places to 29th rank in the ICC Player Rankings for ODI Bowlers after grabbing four wickets from two matches he played in the series. The left-arm bowler took two for 62 in the first match in Christchurch and two for 32 in the final match in Nelson. Santner, on the other hand, has moved up 16 slots to 34th position in the rankings table led by New Zealand pace bowler Trent Boult. He also finished with four wickets in the series including a best figures of two for 38 in the last match. New Zealand pace bowler Tim Southee has gained five places to reach the 26th position after taking five wickets in the series. Bangladesh's Taskin Ahmed (up eight places to 78th rank) and New Zealand's Jimmy Neesham (up 20 places to 120th rank) are among the others to have made upward movement. In ICC Player Rankings for ODI Batsmen led by South Africa's AB de Villiers, New Zealand opener Tom Latham, who slammed a fine 137 in the first match, has gained 11 slots to reach the 33rd position, while Mossadek Hossain of Bangladesh has moved up 37 places to reach the 133rd rank. There was no change in standings in the ICC ODI Team Rankings led by Australia with 120 points. However, Bangladesh has allowed Pakistan to bridge the gap in the team rankings, which will determine the automatic qualifiers for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. Bangladesh has lost four points after starting the series at 95 points. Pakistan is on 89 points and the West Indies on 86 points. Host England and seven other highest-ranked sides as on September 30,2017 will qualify directly for the ICC's pinnacle 50-over tournament.(ANI)