Key points
- Australia’s Travis Head maintains reign at the top
- Babar Azam has slipped one position to No 8
- Haris Rauf climbs four places to 26th
ISLAMABAD: New Zealand’s commanding performance in their T20I series opener against Pakistan has seen several of their players elevate in the latest ICC Men’s T20I rankings.
With a 2-0 lead in the five-match series, the Black Caps have showcased a formidable top order and an impressive bowling unit.
Tim Seifert and Finn Allen, who sparked aggressive starts in both encounters, have been duly rewarded in the updated rankings. Seifert leaps an impressive 20 spots to tie for 13th among T20I batters after scoring 44 and 45, while Allen rises eight places to 18th with contributions of 29* and 38.
Travis head maintains reign
Australia’s Travis Head maintains his reign at the top of the T20I batting rankings, flanked by India’s Abhishek Sharma and England’s Phil Salt.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Babar Azam has slipped one position to No. 8, having been omitted from the squad for the New Zealand leg of the T20I series.
In the bowling department, Jacob Duffy achieved a career milestone, soaring 23 spots to 12th overall after claiming six wickets in the initial two matches.
Pakistan’s Haris Rauf also made strides, climbing four places to 26th following his two-wicket haul in the second match.
West Indies spinner Akeal Hosein remains the top T20I bowler.
Shaheen at No 9
On the ODI front, recent changes reflect the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 in Windhoek.
The Netherlands spinner Aryan Dutt climbed two spots to share 33rd among ODI bowlers after remarkable three-wicket hauls against Namibia, while teammate Paul van Meekeren ascended six places to 61st following his own three-wicket spell.
Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi holds steady at No 9.
Namibia’s Gerhard Erasmus made significant gains, breaking into the top 10 ODI all-rounders after a stellar four-wicket performance against Canada, complemented by a half-century against the Netherlands that propelled him two spots to joint 10th.
Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai continues to dominate as the top-ranked all-rounder.
As New Zealand aims to sustain their momentum in the remaining T20I matches against Pakistan, the World Cup League 2 fixtures promise to further influence the ODI rankings.
