The Pakistani spin duo of Saeed Ajmal and Abdul Rehman were rewarded for their match-winning efforts against the world’s number one-ranked test outfit England by moving up in the world bowling rankings released on Sunday. Ajmal and Rehman destroyed the England batting on Saturday in the second Test here taking nine wickets between them as the English were all out for 72 in their second innings, their lowest total ever in tests against the Pakistanis. It gave Pakistan an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three test series as they won by 72 runs.
Ajmal took 3-22 while Rehman recorded career best figures of 6-25 which saw the former rise one place to number two in the ICC (International Cricket Council) bowlers’ rankings, while Rehman is in ninth place after moving up five places and is in the top ten for the first time. Ajmal – who also reached the landmark of 100 test wickets in only his 19th match – trails number-one ranked Dale Steyn of South Africa by 84 points. This is the first time in 23 years that two Pakistan spinners figure inside the top 10 of the Test player rankings. In September 1988, Abdul Qadir was ranked fifth and Iqbal Qasim 10th, the ICC said.
Positive spin for Ajmal and co in ICC rankings
