Abrar Ahmed breaks into top 10 in latest ICC rankings

WEB DESK: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released its latest Men’s ODI and T20I rankings with several Pakistani players rising up the ranks.

Pakistan’s mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed has surged 11 places to enter the top ten in the ODI Bowling Rankings. The leg-spinner has been on a rapid ascent, building on earlier leaps driven by his match-winning 4/27 against South Africa in the series decider.

His momentum adds to Pakistan’s growing strength in the bowling department, following Haris Rauf’s rise to 28th and sustained form from other young quicks.

Pakistan’s surge in recent weeks, fueled by series wins over South Africa and a victorious start against Sri Lanka, had already propelled several of their stars upward in the previous update. Salman Agha climbed 14 places to 16th after his match-winning 105 against Sri Lanka, while Saim Ayub and Hussain Talat also made notable gains. Haris Rauf and Abrar Ahmed had similarly surged up the bowling charts following standout spells.

In the newest update, Babar Azam has moved up one place to sixth in the ODI batting rankings, continuing his steady rise as Pakistan’s most consistent performer.

However, New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell has jumped two spots to claim the No. 1 position in the ICC Men’s T20I Batting Rankings.

Overall, India retained the No. 1 spot in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings, with New Zealand second and Australia third. Pakistan hold fourth place, maintaining pressure on the top three after a string of strong white-ball outings.

T20I BOWLING RACE TIGHTENS

The global T20I bowling race continues to heat up. New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy had previously climbed to No. 3 after a stellar run against the West Indies, positioning himself behind Varun Chakaravarthy and Rashid Khan. The latest reshuffle now showcases a dynamic contest for supremacy heading into a packed year of T20 cricket.

With India, New Zealand, and Australia holding firm in the ODI top three, and Pakistan’s individuals making waves across both formats, the latest update shows a rapidly evolving competitive landscape.

For Pakistan, in particular, the mix of rising young stars and resurgent seniors suggests their upward trajectory is far from over as they move toward their next major assignments.