KEY POINTS
- Sadia’s rise follows a stellar series against South Africa.
- Captain Fatima Sana also surges, rising 31 places in batting and five spots to sixth among all-rounders.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Sadia Iqbal has stormed back to the summit of women’s T20I cricket, reclaiming her status as the world’s No.1 bowler in the latest ICC Women’s Player Rankings.
The crafty left-arm spinner leapfrogged Australia’s Annabel Sutherland and India’s Deepti Sharma following a series of match-defining performances in Pakistan’s recent three-match T20I series against South Africa.
Iqbal’s return to the top spot marks the third time she has held the premier position, having first achieved the feat in late 2024 and again during a brief stint last year before Sutherland snatched the crown last month.
A spin-wizard at work 👏
Pakistan's Sadia Iqbal climbs to the summit of the ICC Women's T20I Bowler Rankings 🙌
Read more ➡️ https://t.co/jD6PVXYb2Z pic.twitter.com/C7ibGZJToR
— ICC (@ICC) February 17, 2026
Series heroics seal the deal
Iqbal’s ascent was powered by a phenomenal outing against the Proteas, where she finished as the joint leading wicket-taker with five scalps across the series.
The crowning moment came in the series finale in Benoni, where her devastating spell of 3/18 turned the tide in Pakistan’s favour.
That three-wicket haul proved the catalyst for her two-place jump in the rankings, pushing her past Sutherland and Sharma to reclaim familiar territory at the top of the bowling tree.
Fatima Sana joins the party
The rankings update brought a double celebration for Pakistan cricket, with captain Fatima Sana making significant strides across multiple categories.
Power hit by captain Fatima Sana, more like Sachin Tendulkar and Inzamam-ul-Haq’s style. Just amazing #PakVsSA pic.twitter.com/i4yfBbq3ch
— Moments & memories (@momentmemori) February 17, 2026
Sana’s Player of the Match performance in the Benoni finale, where she smashed an unbeaten 47 off just 30 deliveries and claimed two crucial wickets, catapulted her 31 places up the batters’ list to equal 28th.
The all-rounder also climbed five spots to sixth in the T20I all-rounders’ rankings.
Among Sana’s prized scalps in that match was South African captain Laura Wolvaardt, though the Proteas skipper will find consolation in her own rankings rise, moving up one place to fourth among T20I batters.
Indian bowlers make moves down under
A trio of Indian bowlers capitalised on impressive displays during the rain-affected opening T20I against Australia in Sydney.
Renuka Singh surged six places to fifth, while Arundhati Reddy’s strong showing lifted her 19 rungs to equal 16th.
Youngster Shree Charani also joined the party, climbing eight spots to 39th following decent hauls in the truncated contest.
