DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) released its latest player rankings on Wednesday. While England’s Joe Root and India’s Jasprit Bumrah continue to dominate their formats, players from Pakistan and Sri Lanka have also made remarkable strides.
Test rankings overview
England’s Joe Root has successfully retained his top spot in the Test batsmen rankings. Behind him, South Africa’s Temba Bavuma climbed one place to fifth, while Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis moved up to sixth.
Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel stands firm at 12th position, showcasing his consistency with the bat.
In the bowling department, India’s Jasprit Bumrah reclaimed the No. 1 position, moving up one place to lead the Test bowlers’ chart. Pakistan’s Noman Ali made significant progress, jumping six places, while India’s Mohammad Siraj advanced three spots to 12th position.
South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj edged up one place to 19th, with India’s Kuldeep Yadav making a strong leap of seven places to 21st. Pakistan’s Sajid Khan and Shaheen Afridi also improved their rankings, now placed 21st and 22nd respectively.
T20I rankings shake-up
In the shortest format, India’s Abhishek Sharma continues to shine, retaining his position as the top-ranked T20I batsman. Australia’s Mitchell Marsh surged 13 places to reach 10th position, reflecting his recent explosive performances.
Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan also rose one place to 10th, strengthening his foothold among the top T20I performers.
Among bowlers, Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan climbed six spots to reach second position, reaffirming his dominance in the format. Pakistan saw a strong representation as well — with Abrar Ahmed securing the 7th position and Sufyan Muqim entering the top 10 at 10th place.
The latest update highlights the growing competition between Asian players in both formats. With India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan all featuring multiple names in the top lists, South Asian cricket continues to dominate the global stage.
Pakistan’s consistent rise across categories — from Saud Shakeel’s stability in Tests to Abrar Ahmed’s entry into the T20 top ten — signals promising momentum ahead of upcoming tours.
