ICC T20I ranking: Saim Ayub, Hassan Nawaz rise as Babar Azam slips

LONDON: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday issued the latest T20I rankings, showing improvements for Pakistan’s national team players.

In the updated men’s T20I batting rankings, left-handed batter Saim Ayub jumped from 63rd to 38th, while right-handed batter Hassan Nawaz climbed from 54th to 30^th.

However, seasoned performers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan slipped down three spots each, now standing at 17th and 19th, respectively. India’s all-rounder Abhishek Sharma maintained his position at the top of the cricket body ranking.

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From bowling side, none of the Pakistani bowlers could managed to break into the top 10 of the ICC T20I ranking. Among the team’s pacers, Abbas Afridi dropped to 28th (down three steps), while Haris Rauf retained his 26th in the ranking. Left-hand spinner Sufiyan Muqeem showed impressive progress, moving up from 69th to 35th.

Pakistan VS West Indies One-Day International Series

 West Indies have announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match One Day International (ODI) series against Pakistan, opting to rest their frontline fast bowler Alzarri Joseph in a bid to manage his workload.

The squad, led by captain Shai Hope, includes Jewel Andrew, Jayden Blades, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Alick Athanaze, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, and Romario Shepherd.

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The ODI series between Pakistan and West Indies is set to begin on August 8, with the second and third matches scheduled for August 10 and 12 respectively.

The Pakistan ODI squad has already landed in West Indies.

Joseph, who was also rested during the recent T20I series against Pakistan, continues to follow a workload management plan. In his place, all-rounder Romario Shepherd has been included. Shepherd last featured in an ODI in December 2024 and was not part of the squads against England or Ireland earlier this year.

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West Indies, currently ranked 10th in the ODI standings, are eyeing crucial points in the lead-up to the 2027 World Cup after a disappointing 0-3 ODI series loss to England.

On the other hand, Pakistan’s squad features a mix of senior and younger players, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Hasan Nawaz.