Lahore: Pakistani spinner Sadia Iqbal made headlines by briefly topping the ICC Women’s T20I Bowling Rankings, a notable achievement as she became the first from her country to reach this position in T20 internationals. This significant milestone was achieved during the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, though her lead was short-lived as she finished second in the latest weekly update.
According to International Cricket Council, Iqbal equaled England’s Sophie Ecclestone, who has been the top-ranked T20I bowler since February 2020, at 757 rating points after her impressive performance of taking three wickets for 17 runs against Sri Lanka last Thursday. However, Ecclestone reclaimed her lead just two days later after delivering a strong performance against South Africa, ending the tight contest between the two left-arm spinners for the top spot this week.
Sadia’s ascent to the top of the rankings, albeit briefly, marks only the second instance a Pakistani woman has reached such heights across any format; former captain Sana Mir topped the ODI bowling rankings in 2018-2019. The achievement underscores the growing presence and impact of Pakistani women in international cricket.
The World Cup has also seen other significant shifts in player rankings. South African openers Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits reached career-best rankings, with Wolvaardt moving up to third and Brits to sixth in the batting rankings after their recent performances against West Indies and England.
The ICC Women’s T20I rankings saw additional shifts with New Zealand’s Suzie Bates and England’s Dannie Wyatt among others moving up the batting rankings, while Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner and Megan Schutt made notable advances in the bowling rankings. These movements reflect the dynamic nature of the sport and the ongoing contributions of players from various countries.
This fluctuation in rankings highlights not only individual performances but also the competitive spirit of the T20 World Cup, showcasing the best of women’s cricket on the international stage.