KEY POINTS
- Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, and Shaheen Afridi were among the biggest gainers in T20I bowling rankings
- Haris Rauf, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan faced ranking drops
- Fakhar Zaman made a strong comeback in the batting rankings, jumping nine spots
- Globally, stars like Kusal Perera, Sikandar Raza, and Adil Rashid also climbed the rankings
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s bowlers made notable gains in the latest ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings after their strong performances in the tri-series against the UAE and Afghanistan, which concluded with a 75-run win over Afghanistan in the final.
Spin Stars and Shaheen Lead the Rise
Among the biggest movers was Sufiyan Muqeem, who jumped seven places to 15th after his two-wicket haul in the final. Abrar Ahmed, who played just two games, impressed with six wickets and surged 39 spots to joint 27th.
Mohammad Nawaz, named Player of the Series for his 10 wickets, rose 13 places to 30th in the T20I bowling rankings, while Shaheen Shah Afridi climbed four places to 22nd, consolidating his status as Pakistan’s premier pace spearhead.
Mixed Fortunes for Other Bowlers
However, Haris Rauf slipped seven places to 35th, indicating a dip in recent form despite being a key part of the squad.
Batting Rankings: Babar and Rizwan Slide
On the batting front, captain Babar Azam dropped three places to 24th, while Mohammad Rizwan fell six places to 28th. Youngsters Hasan Nawaz and Saim Ayub also saw drops, landing at 35th and 42nd, respectively.
However, Fakhar Zaman made notable progress, moving up nine places to 68th after scoring 155 runs across the series. Salman Agha, the interim T20I captain, rose slightly to 57th.
ODI Rankings: Babar Holds Strong, Shaheen Slides
In the ODI format, Babar Azam retained his No. 3 ranking among batters, reaffirming his consistency. On the other hand, Shaheen Afridi dropped two spots to 17th among bowlers.
Globally, Keshav Maharaj of South Africa remains the No.1 ODI bowler, while England’s Jofra Archer climbed to third after an eight-wicket haul against South Africa.
Global Movers: Raza, Perera, Rashid Stand Out
Beyond Pakistan, Sri Lanka’s Kusal Perera entered the T20I top 10, landing at ninth after a match-winning knock against Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza climbed three places to fourth in the T20I all-rounder rankings.
In ODIs, England’s Adil Rashid improved to eighth among bowlers, while Joe Root, Jos Buttler, and rising star Jacob Bethell advanced in the batting charts following their series against the Proteas.
A Promising Sign for Pakistan’s Bowling Unit
With several bowlers climbing the ranks and a trophy secured, Pakistan’s T20I bowling unit appears in fine form heading into the next phase of international competition.
While the batting lineup shows signs of fluctuation, standout performances from veterans and young guns alike suggest better days may lie ahead.
