Batters blaze as Pakistan surge up latest ICC rankings

WEB DESK: Pakistan’s recent hot streak in white-ball cricket has sparked a rankings revival, with several batters and bowlers making major moves in the latest ICC Men’s Player Rankings update.

Fresh off their series triumph over South Africa and a winning start to the ODIs against Sri Lanka, the Men in Green are reaping the rewards of consistency and flair, led by a power-packed batting unit.

At the forefront is Salman Agha, whose blistering 105 off 87 balls in Rawalpindi powered Pakistan to a narrow win over Sri Lanka. The innings also propelled him 14 places up to 16th in the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings, his highest-ever career position with 639 rating points.

Teammate Hussain Talat chipped in with a crucial 62 off 63, while rising star Saim Ayub continued his fine form from the South Africa series, where consecutive half-centuries helped him leap 18 spots to joint 35th.

On the bowling front, Haris Rauf made a statement on his return, bagging four wickets in just his second international outing since the Asia Cup final. His efforts moved him three places up to 28th in the ODI Bowling Rankings.

Meanwhile, leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed’s heroics against South Africa, a match-winning 4/27 in the series decider, have not gone unnoticed. Despite sitting out the Sri Lanka fixture, the mystery spinner soared 17 spots, continuing his meteoric rise.

Elsewhere, South Africa’s comeback man Quinton de Kock was back among the runs, registering fifties in all three ODIs against Pakistan to climb four places to 15th. Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga also shone bright, claiming 3/54 and smashing a spirited 59 in Rawalpindi to jump 14 spots in batting and move to ninth in bowling, solidifying his place among the world’s top all-rounders.

In T20I action, New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy has made headlines with six wickets in four games against the West Indies. His fiery spells have lifted him six places to No.3 in the ICC Men’s T20I Bowling Rankings, just behind India’s Varun Chakaravarthy and Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan.

With batters firing, bowlers striking, and momentum firmly in their corner, Pakistan’s rise in the global rankings looks set to continue, and fans will be eager to see if this form carries into the next big challenge.