The International Cricket Council (ICC) released its latest T20I rankings on February 4, highlighting significant changes for Pakistani players. This update comes after Pakistan’s impressive win against Australia in a three-match T20I series played at home.
The rankings update is occurring during a challenging period for Pakistan, as tensions between the ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) persist, particularly concerning the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. Despite these challenges, the team’s performance has led to notable achievements for several players.
Saim Ayub Reclaims No.1 All-Rounder Spot
Young Pakistani talent Saim Ayub has once again reached the top of the ICC T20I all-rounder rankings. The 23-year-old has surpassed Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza, thanks to his strong showing against Australia.
Ayub scored 119 runs over three innings, averaging 39.67, and took three wickets in two bowling appearances. His all-round efforts earned him a rating of 290 points, putting him just ahead of Raza, who is currently ranked second. Mohammad Nawaz from Pakistan moved up two spots to claim the fourth position among all-rounders.
Big Gains for Salman Agha and Shadab Khan
Other Pakistani players also saw significant improvements in the rankings. Shadab Khan climbed 13 places to reach 26th in the all-rounder list after taking four wickets during the series.
Saim Ayub moved up eight spots to joint 28th in the batting rankings, sharing this position with Salman Agha. Agha performed exceptionally well, scoring 120 runs at a strike rate of 171.43, and jumped 29 places with a rating of 589 points.
Bowlers Also Move Up the Charts
Pakistan’s bowlers had a strong showing too. Abrar Ahmed rose two places to second in the T20I bowling rankings, narrowing the gap to the top position. Shaheen Afridi climbed five spots to reach 19th among T20I bowlers.
Babar Azam and Sahibzada Farhan Slip
Despite the team’s overall success, some players dropped in the rankings. Former captain Babar Azam fell three spots to 34th after scoring 76 runs in three innings. Sahibzada Farhan’s performance was poor, with only five runs in two matches, leading to a decrease in his ranking.
Ishan Kishan Makes Big Jump
Indian batter Ishan Kishan also made a significant leap this week. After scoring his first T20I century against New Zealand in Kerala, he advanced 32 positions to 32nd. Kishan scored 215 runs in four matches, averaging 53.75. South African player Ryan Rickelton saw the most significant jump, moving up 42 places after a strong performance against the West Indies.
