Pakistan opener Saim Ayub has reclaimed the top spot on the ICC Men’s T20I All-Rounder Rankings following a brilliant series against Australia. His exceptional performance in Pakistan’s 3-0 whitewash over the visitors on home soil propelled him past Zimbabwe veteran Sikandar Raza.
Ayub scored 119 runs and took three wickets across the three-match series, showcasing his all-round abilities just days before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which starts on February 7. Pakistan will be aiming to win their second T20 World Cup title and their first since the 2009 edition.
It was not just Ayub who benefited from Pakistan’s recent performances. Spinner Abrar Ahmed moved up two spots to reach second in the T20I bowlers’ rankings, just 28 rating points behind India’s Varun Chakravarthy. Ahmed took six wickets in the series, highlighting his growing influence in Pakistan’s bowling attack.
Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz also climbed the rankings. Following a five-wicket haul in the final match against Australia, he jumped eight places to seventh among T20I bowlers and moved up to fourth in the T20I all-rounders list. Nawaz’s strong showing adds depth to Pakistan’s spin options ahead of the World Cup.
Other notable movements include Ayub climbing eight spots to 27th among T20I batters, while Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha moved up 12 positions to 29th. Among top international T20I batters, India’s Abhishek Sharma retains the number one spot, with England’s Jos Buttler, Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka, India’s Suryakumar Yadav, and New Zealand’s Tim Seifert all gaining a place each.
Pakistan’s strong performances in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup signal their intent to compete at the highest level, with key players like Ayub, Abrar Ahmed, and Mohammad Nawaz emerging as serious threats in both batting and bowling departments.
Also read: Saim Ayub Retains ICC Crown As Starc, Chakravarthy Shine
