Sidra Amin breaches ICC Top 10; Pakistani women cricketers soar in ODI rankings

LAHORE: Pakistan’s women’s cricket continues its upward trajectory as batter Sidra Amin cracked into the ICC Women’s ODI Top 10 batters for the first time in her career, following a string of stellar performances. Most notably, her 81-run knock against arch-rivals India landed her the high spot.

Also read: Saim Ayub becomes world’s top T20 all-rounder in latest ICC rankings

The Lahore-born batter jumped three places to 10th, marking a personal milestone with a career-best 664 rating points in the format. Her rise is part of a broader surge in rankings for Pakistani women, with multiple players making notable gains across batting and bowling charts.

Fellow batter Muneeba Ali rose seven spots to 40th, while Aliya Riaz climbed nine positions to 47th, reflecting Pakistan’s growing depth in the ODI batting lineup.

On the bowling side, left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu moved up two places to 15th, while Sadia Iqbal gained three spots to reach 20th. Captain and pace spearhead Fatima Sana also made strides, climbing five places to 29th, and veteran quick Diana Baig edged up three spots to 39th.

Globally, India’s Smriti Mandhana continues to lead the women’s ODI batting rankings, while England’s Sophie Ecclestone remains unchallenged at the summit of the bowlers’ list.

PAKISTAN’S CRICKET ON THE RISE – ACROSS FORMATS

The news comes hot on the heels of Saim Ayub’s rise to the number one spot in the ICC T20 all-rounder rankings, dethroning India’s Hardik Pandya. The 23-year-old has been a revelation in recent months and leads a new wave of talent shaping the future of Pakistan cricket.

Also read: Babar Azam returns to Pakistan squad for South Africa Test series

In men’s rankings, Muhammad Nawaz (13th among all-rounders) and Sahibzada Farhan (13th among batters) also made significant moves, while Abrar Ahmed slipped three places to 7th in the T20I bowlers’ list.

The gains on both the men’s and women’s fronts highlight a promising new chapter for Pakistan cricket, with emerging stars and experienced campaigners stepping up on the global stage.

ENG Women versus BAN Women: England set to chase modest 178 in ICC Women’s World Cup