Babar Azam, Pakistan’s skipper, closed in on India’s Suryakumar Yadav in the ICC Men’s T20I Batter Rankings following an outstanding display in Pakistan’s series against New Zealand, which concluded with a thrilling 2-2 draw.
Throughout the series, Babar emerged as Pakistan’s highest run-scorer, showcasing his batting prowess at the forefront of the team’s lineup. His standout performance came in the fifth T20I, where he notched a half-century, accumulating a total of 125 runs across four innings. This impressive showing propelled the 29-year-old up the rankings, securing the fourth position with a rating of 763, just 98 points behind Suryakumar Yadav.
Notably, Fakhar Zaman, another Pakistani batter, also made significant strides in the rankings, ascending 10 places to 62nd after his notable contribution of 104 runs in the series.
In the bowling department, both Pakistani and New Zealand players witnessed notable movements in the updated T20I bowlers’ list. Shaheen Afridi, the left-arm pacer, surged three places to joint 14th after claiming eight wickets in the series.
However, some prominent Pakistani bowlers experienced a decline in their rankings. Haris Rauf slipped to 23rd position due to injury sidelining him from the New Zealand series, while Shadab Khan’s ranking dropped to 26th despite his batting exploits, as his bowling performance fell short of expectations.
Conversely, New Zealand’s Michael Bracewell climbed 13 spots to 55th, and Ben Sears jumped 29 places to 60th in the T20I bowlers’ rankings.
Additionally, Imad Wasim, who made a comeback to the national team after reversing his retirement decision, exhibited significant progress in the T20I all-rounder rankings. He rose 10 positions to 22nd after consistently delivering impactful performances against New Zealand.
This series not only showcased the individual talents of players but also highlighted the competitive landscape of T20 cricket as teams gear up for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with Babar Azam leading Pakistan’s charge towards the summit of the rankings.
