KEY POINTS
- Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed rose to No. 4 in the T20I bowlers’ rankings
- Mohammad Nawaz moved up to No. 11 among bowlers and No. 4 among all-rounders
- India’s Virat Kohli climbed to No. 4 in the ODI batter rankings.
- South Africa’s Marco Jansen surged to No. 5 in the Test bowlers’ rankings.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s dynamic all-rounder Saim Ayub has once again claimed the top spot in the ICC Men’s Player Rankings for T20I all-rounders, following his stellar performance in the recently concluded tri-series against Sri Lanka.
The 23-year-old’s rise to No. 1 comes after his crucial contributions in the final match, where Pakistan secured a six-wicket win to clinch the title.
Ayub had initially reached the top rank in October, but was overtaken by Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza, who hit a record-breaking century off just 33 balls during the tri-series.
However, Ayub’s impressive all-round performance, 36 runs and a key wicket in four economical overs, was enough to propel him back to the top.
Ayub’s return to the top spot reflects his growing influence in T20 cricket, with his performances being a key factor in Pakistan’s continued success. The young all-rounder’s consistency has made him one of the brightest stars in international cricket.
Abrar and Nawaz make significant gains
Pakistan’s victory in the tri-series also saw other players rise in the rankings. Abrar Ahmed, who impressed with his bowling displays, moved up four places to No. 4 in the T20I bowler rankings.
Mohammad Nawaz, who was named Player of the Tournament, saw significant progress as well, climbing two spots to No. 11 among T20I bowlers and jumping three places to No. 4 in the T20I all-rounder rankings.
Virat Kohli edges closer to ODI No.1 spot
Meanwhile, on the ODI front, India’s Virat Kohli continues to close the gap on Rohit Sharma, the current No. 1 ODI batter.
Kohli’s superb 135 runs in the series opener against South Africa have propelled him to No. 4 in the rankings, just 32 rating points behind his teammate at the top.
Marco Jansen shines in Test Rankings
South Africa’s Marco Jansen also enjoyed a rise in the rankings, climbing five places to No. 5 in the Test bowlers’ list.
Following his impressive performances in the 2-0 series sweep against India, Jansen also moved up four spots to No. 2 in the Test all-rounder rankings.
Kamil Mishara and Bangladesh trio shine
Sri Lanka’s Kamil Mishara made an impressive leap, moving up to 18th in the T20I batters’ rankings after his outstanding 169 runs in the tri-series.
Additionally, Bangladesh’s Parvez Hossain Emon and Towhid Hridoy also saw improvements in their rankings following their team’s 2-1 series victory over Ireland.
