Web Desk: Pakistan’s cricketers made a strong impact in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings, with several players achieving notable positions across formats, highlighting the country’s growing influence in world cricket.
The biggest breakthrough came from Pakistan’s young all-rounder Saim Ayub, who climbed to the top of the ICC T20 all-rounders rankings. He overtook all rivals to claim the number one spot, marking a major personal milestone and signalling a promising future for Pakistan cricket.
Meanwhile, fellow all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz held onto fifth place, further strengthening Pakistan’s presence in the category.
In Test cricket, Pakistan batter Saud Shakeel moved up one position to ninth place, earning a spot among the world’s top 10 Test batters. His consistent performances helped him gain ground in a list still led by England’s Joe Root, followed by New Zealand’s Kane Williamson and Australia’s Steve Smith.
On the bowling front, Australia’s Mitchell Starc rose to second place in the Test rankings, while India’s Jasprit Bumrah retained the top spot. Pakistan spinner Nauman Ali remained fourth, a positive sign for the national side’s red-ball bowling strength.
In One-Day Internationals, India’s Rohit Sharma continued to lead the batting rankings, with Virat Kohli close behind in second place. Pakistan’s former captain Babar Azam stayed sixth, maintaining his status among elite ODI batters.
However, T20 batting produced mixed results. Sahibzada Farhan slipped one position to sixth, while India’s Abhishek Sharma retained the top spot. Tilak Varma climbed two places to fourth. Babar Azam dropped to 31st, a decline that may raise concerns among fans.
In T20 bowling rankings, India’s Varun Chakravarthy held onto first place. Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed impressed with his recent performances, moving up to fourth position and reinforcing Pakistan’s strength in the shortest format.
Overall, the latest ICC rankings underline Pakistan’s steady rise on the global stage. With young players like Saim Ayub making major strides and others maintaining strong positions, officials and fans alike see encouraging signs of further success in the months ahead.
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