Dubai: Pakistan received a major confidence boost just months before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, as several of their top players surged up the latest ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings.
Following a successful home series victory against South Africa — their fourth bilateral series win in 2025 — multiple Pakistani cricketers have been rewarded for their stellar performances.
Leading the charge, Babar Azam jumped nine places to joint 30th in the T20I batting rankings, while young opener Saim Ayub climbed 10 spots to 39th. Meanwhile, all-rounder Salman Agha surged 10 rungs to 54th, showcasing Pakistan’s depth in the white-ball format.
India’s explosive batter Abhishek Sharma continues to hold the No. 1 position among T20I batters, but the latest update also saw notable progress from other global stars.
West Indies captain Shai Hope rose two spots to 12th, Bangladesh’s Tanzid Hasan jumped 20 places to 17th, and Afghanistan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran climbed to 15th and 20th, respectively.
Varun Chakravarthy Holds No. 1 Spot Among T20I Bowlers
India’s mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy continues to dominate the T20I bowling charts, maintaining his top ranking. Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood moved up two spots to 10th after an impressive home series against India.
There were also significant gains for Bangladesh’s Mujeeb Ur Rahman (up 13 places to 14th) and Mahedi Hasan (up six to 17th), while West Indies duo Jason Holder and Roston Chase climbed to 23rd and 38th, respectively.
Zimbabwe veteran Sikandar Raza produced one of the biggest leaps, soaring 32 positions to 33rd, while South Africa’s Corbin Bosch (up 15 spots to 38th) impressed after finishing as the leading wicket-taker against Pakistan. Pakistan’s own Salman Mirza (45th) and Faheem Ashraf (51st) also broke into the top 100 following standout performances.
All-Rounder Rankings: Raza and Chase on the Rise
On the T20I all-rounders list, Sikandar Raza climbed to second, while Roston Chase moved to third, thanks to their recent consistent showings. Saim Ayub, meanwhile, continues to lead the rankings after his solid run against South Africa.
ODI Rankings: Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra Shine
In the ODI format, New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell rocketed to third in the batting rankings after his Player of the Series heroics against England. Mitchell piled up 178 runs while being dismissed just once in the 3–0 sweep at home.
His teammate Rachin Ravindra also made a strong impression, jumping four places to 14th after scoring 117 runs in the series.
For England, there was some consolation as pace ace Jofra Archer climbed two spots to third among ODI bowlers, trailing only Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan at the top.
Summary
With Pakistan’s key players peaking in form and climbing the ICC charts, the Men in Green look well-positioned for a strong campaign at next year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The rankings reshuffle also highlights global movement across formats, underscoring the competitive balance in world cricket.
