Pakistan cricketers have continued to head in the right direction in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test Player Rankings following their third straight victory in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Sarfraz Ahmad, Ahmad Shahzad, Zulfiqar Babar, Yasir Shah, Rahat Ali and Imran Khan have achieved career-best rankings in the latest player rankings, which were released on Friday following Pakistan’s victory against New Zealand in the first Test on Thursday. Pakistan defeated New Zealand by 248 runs. In addition to these, captain Misbahul Haq, who scored 102 not out, his eighth career century, has achieved a career-best rating to date of 842. Younus Khan, who scored 100 not out, his 28th Test century, has gained a place as well as seven ratings points to reduce the gap with fourth-ranked Angelo Mathews to six ratings points.
In the Rankings for Test Batsmen, wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz is now in 31st position (up by two places) and Ahmad, whose 176 was his Test-best, has vaulted 18 places to 39th. In the Rankings for Test Bowlers, Zulfiqar has gained 11 places and is now in 31st spot following his match figures of five for 127, Yasir Shah has moved up two places to 35th, left-arm fast bowler Rahat Ali has jumped 23 places to 49th position after match figures of six for 70 while Imran Khan’s two wickets in the second innings have put him in 80th spot (up by eight places). Opener Mohammad Hafeez, who scored 96 and 101 not out, is now just outside the top 50 in 52nd spot after rising 12 positions, while he has gained six places in the bowlers’ rankings to return to the top 50 in 49th spot. In the all-rounders’ category, Hafeez is now in 11th spot after climbing eight spots.
Two New Zealand players have also improved their rankings. Tom Latham, who scored 103 and 20, has moved up 16 places to 55th spot and Ish Sodhi is now in 73rd position (up by four places). The batting table is headed by Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara, while Dale Steyn leads the bowlers’ list. Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan is the number-one ranked all-rounder.
Batsmen Rankings
1: K Sangakkara (SL)
2: AB de Villiers (SA)
3: S Chanderpaul (WI)
4: Angelo Mathews (SL)
5: Younus Khan (Pak)
6: Hashim Amla (SA)
7: David Warner (Aus)
8: Misbahul Haq (Pak)
9: Joe Root (Eng)
10: Michael Clarke (Aus)
11: Ross Taylor (NZ)
Selected Rankings
15: K Williamson (NZ)
17: Azhar Ali (Pak)
22: Asad Shafiq (Pak)
31: Sarfraz Ahmed (Pak)
39: Ahmad Shahzad (Pak)
52: Mohammad Hafeez (Pak)
Bowlers Rankings
1: Dale Steyn (SA)
2: Ryan Harris (Aus)
3: Rangana Herath (SL)
4: Mitchell Johnson (Aus)
5: James Anderson (Eng)
6: Vernon Philander (SA)
7: Stuart Broad (Eng)
8: Kemar Roach (WI)
9: Tim Southee (NZ)
10: Saeed Ajmal (Pak)
Selected Rankings
13: Trent Boult (NZ)
23: Neil Wagner (NZ)
31: Zulfiqar Babar (Pak)
35: Yasir Shah (Pak)
48: M Hafeez (Pak)
49: Rahat Ali (Pak)
62: Corey Anderson (NZ)
73: Ish Sodhi (NZ)
80: Imran Khan (Pak)
