Rashid Khan: The youngest No.1 in men’s cricket
After a year in which Rashid Khan left plenty of records in his wake – and for which he was given the ICC Associate Cricketer of the Year award – the leg-spinner from Afghanistan has added another feather to what is already a pretty stuffed cap.
Rashid became the youngest player – and only teenager – to top any of the MRF Tyres ICC Player Rankings tables for men when he became the No.1-ranked ODI bowler at just 7092 days of age.
Confirmation of the achievement came on Monday after Afghanistan completed a 4-1 series-win over Zimbabwe in Sharjah. Rashid was the highest wicket-taker in the series, claiming a remarkable haul of 16 wickets for a total of 127 runs, at a staggering average of 7.9.
Before Rashid, the youngest man to be No.1 in any of the MRF Tyres ICC Player Rankings was Saqlain Mushtaq. The Pakistan off-spinner was 7683 days old when in January 1998 he ascended to top spot in the ODI rankings.
Youngest men to top any ICC ranking table*
Rashid Khan has expressed his delight at being named ICC Associate Cricketer of the Year in the 2017 awards.
Interestingly, Stafanie Taylor, the star Windies Women all-rounder, is the only player – man or woman – to have topped an ICC ranking table at a younger age than Rashid. Taylor was only 6907 days old when she climbed to the top of the Women’s T20I batting charts in 2010.
Youngest women to top any ICC ranking table*
* Age taken at the time of individuals topping any table for the first time, so there are 10 different players for both the men and the women