Ajit Karn
Afghanistan’s historic victory over Pakistan reverberated throughout the cricketing globe. It was the first time Afghanistan defeated Pakistan in a bilateral Twenty20 International (T20I) series, and star spinner Rashid Khan was the primary beneficiary as he surpassed Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga to reclaim the top spot in the global rankings for T20I bowlers. The right-arm bowler took a wicket in each of the three matches played in Sharjah against Pakistan, with his miserly economy rate during Afghanistan’s victories in the first two games of the series standing out.
Fazalhaq Farooqi, a teammate of Rashid’s, was the most effective pacer in the series, taking five wickets at an economy rate of just 4.75 runs per over. In the most recent rankings update, the left-armer jumped an astounding 12 places to third overall.
Afghanistan now has three bowlers ranked among the top 10 in the T20I bowling category, with spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman occupying the eighth position after taking four wickets in the series against Pakistan.
While regular Pakistan captain Babar Azam was excused for the series and fell one spot to fourth in the T20I batter rankings, stand-in captain Shadab Khan performed admirably and was appropriately rewarded in the most recent rankings update.
Shadab moved up eight positions to fourth on the T20I all-rounder rankings and six spaces to 12th overall on the list for bowers, while colleague Mohammad Wasim climbed nine positions to 23rd in the same category.
As a result of the West Indies’ series victory over South Africa, a number of their players climbed the T20I rankings list, with beanpole quick Alzarri Joseph rising 17 spots to 33rd overall for bowlers and compatriot Johnson Charles soaring 92 spots to 17th for batsmen.
Rilee Rossouw (up two places to sixth) and Reeza Hendricks (up eight places to twelfth) also made significant gains in the T20I rankings for batsmen during this high-scoring and entertaining series.
Following the conclusion of Australia’s away series in India and Zimbabwe’s home series against the Netherlands, there was also some movement in the ODI rankings this week.
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Australia’s Adam Zampa moved up three spots to sixth overall on the list of ODI bowlers, while Zimbabwe’s veteran all-rounder Sikandar Raza moved up one spot to fifth.
India opener Shubman Gill climbed to a career-high rating of 738 points and fifth place on the list of ODI batsmen, while India captain Rohit Sharma moved up one position to eighth overall in the same category.
