Sahibzada Farhan rises in ICC Men’s T20I batting rankings

DUBAI: Pakistan’s top-order batter Sahibzada Farhan made a significant stride in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20I batting rankings, updated on Wednesday.

Farhan, who finished as the leading run-scorer in the recently concluded home T20I tri-series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, continued to reap the rewards for his consistent performances in the format, pipping India’s Tilak Varma to secure fifth place with 752 rating points.

The all-rounders ranking of the shortest format continued to be dominated by Pakistan’s Saim Ayub, who remained at the summit, while his Indian counterpart Hardik Pandya climbed up three places to clinch fourth spot. Meanwhile, middle-order batter Saud Shakeel broke into the Top 10 of the men’s Test batting rankings, jumping one spot to clinch the 10th position.

In the bowling rankings of the longest format, Pakistan spinner Noman Ali slipped a spot to fourth as Australia’s Mitchell Starc jumped three places to occupy third position.

There were plenty of movements in the men’s ODI rankings, particularly in batting, as the race for the top between India’s experienced duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli has intensified.

Rohit leads the rankings with 781 rating points, just eight clear of compatriot Kohli, who jumped two places, pipping New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell and Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran, to claim second position. Furthermore, India’s Kuldeep Yadav enjoyed the most significant stride, jumping three places to secure third position in the men’s ODI bowling rankings, led by Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan. Pakistan bowlers also saw notable improvements in their ODI rankings, with Shaheen Shah Afridi climbing two spots to 19th, while Haris Rauf jumped one place to claim 22nd position. Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai remained at the summit of the men’s all-rounders rankings in ODIs. Monitoring Desk