(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Pakistan’s T20I Victory Sparks Major Climb in ICC Rankings
Pakistan’s recent T20I series win over the West Indies has provided a major confidence boost for the national team and triggered significant changes in the ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings. Following the 2-1 series victory in the Caribbean, several Green Shirts players have seen remarkable jumps in their global standings.
Rising Stars Shine for Pakistan
One of the standout performers was Sufiyan Muqeem, who emerged as a key figure in the bowling attack. The left-arm wrist-spinner impressed with three economical spells, demonstrating control and variation that troubled the powerful West Indies lineup. His efforts earned him a massive 69-place leap in the ICC T20I Bowling Rankings, placing him at a career-best joint-34th—a remarkable achievement for a player previously outside the top 100.
Fellow bowler Mohammad Nawaz also made significant strides, climbing 51 spots to reach 56th in the rankings.
Mixed Results for Other Bowlers
While Haris Rauf held firm at 26th, other established names such as Shaheen Afridi, Abbas Afridi, and Abrar Ahmed experienced slight drops in their rankings, signaling room for improvement in upcoming matches.
Top 5 ICC T20I Bowling Rankings:
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Jacob Duffy (New Zealand) – 717
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Adil Rashid (England) – 710
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Akeal Hosein (West Indies) – 707
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Varun Chakaravarthy (India) – 706
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Adam Zampa (Australia) – 694
Pakistan’s Batters Make Their Mark
The series also saw Hasan Nawaz deliver with the bat, earning a 24-place jump to secure the 30th spot in the batting rankings. Young talent Saim Ayub rose 25 spots to joint-37th, while Sahibzada Farhan climbed 34 places to land at 63rd, strengthening his case for selection in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025.
Top 5 ICC T20I Batting Rankings:
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Abhishek Sharma (India) – 829
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Travis Head (Australia) – 814
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Tilak Varma (India) – 804
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Phil Salt (England) – 791
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Jos Buttler (England) – 772
What’s Next for Pakistan?
With the Asia Cup and the ICC T20 World Cup just around the corner, Pakistan’s surge in form and rankings sends a powerful message to competitors. The squad appears more balanced, with young talent rising and experienced players stepping up.
The upcoming tri-series against the UAE and Afghanistan will be another opportunity for Pakistan’s players to continue climbing the ranks and build momentum ahead of major tournaments.
