Eight nations are represented in the current men's ODI World XI according to the latest ICC player rankings for the format.
Players from India occupy two spots in the team, with the same number of places filled by players from Pakistan and Afghanistan. South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Zimbabwe and Ireland all have one player represented in the side.
The selection criteria for the XI is as follows: The top four batters in the ICC rankings are automatically selected, as is the wicketkeeper with the highest batting rank, and the top two players in the all-rounders rankings. The top four players in the bowling rankings are also selected, but with a caveat. In order to balance the side, bowlers are selected to ensure a minimum of three seamers and two spinners.
For example, in this side, Rashid Khan is selected as the world No.1 ranked bowler in the format, but because both all-rounders in the side are spinners, the other three bowling places have been given to the three highest-ranked seamers. Thus, despite being the No.2 ranked bowler by the ICC, Maheesh Theekshana misses out, as does No.3 Bernard Scholtz, with No.4 Shaheen Afridi the next selected bowler.
Kuldeep Yadav missed out despite being ranked above the next selected seamer Matt Henry, as does Adam Zampa despite being ranked above Josh Hazlewood.
The ICC batting rankings are also normally dominated by top-order batters, meaning some batters may be slightly out of position in this side.
ODI World XI based on ICC men's player rankings
(All rankings accurate as of February 15, 2025)
1. Shubman Gill (IND, 781): No.2 batter
2. Rohit Sharma (IND, 773): No.3 batter
3. Babar Azam (PAK, 786): No.1 batter
4. Harry Tector (IRE, 737): No.4 batter
5. Heinrich Klaasen (wk) (SA, 736): No.5 batter
6. Sikandar Raza (ZIM, 290): No.2 all-rounder
7. Mohammad Nabi (AFG, 300): No.1 all-rounder
8. Rashid Khan (AFG, 669): No.1 bowler
9. Shaheen Afridi (PAK, 653): No.4 bowler
10. Matt Henry (NZ, 638): No.6 bowler
11. Josh Hazlewood (AUS, 634): No.8 bowler
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