Islamabad, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Pakistan’s left-arm fast bowler, has reclaimed his status as the country’s top T20 International (T20I) bowler after moving up two places to 17th in the latest ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings. His ascent follows impressive performances in the ongoing home series against New Zealand, where he has been the leading wicket-taker.
According to International Cricket Council, Afridi’s performance in the first three matches of the series, particularly his three-wicket haul in the second match, has been instrumental in his rise through the rankings, surpassing his teammate Haris Rauf. The series, which has seen one match affected by rain, currently stands tied at 1-1, with two games left to play.
The rankings also saw movements for other players in the series. New Zealand’s Ish Sodhi climbed the ranks among bowlers, thanks to his total of three wickets in the matches at Rawalpindi. On the batting front, New Zealand’s Tim Seifert and Mark Chapman made significant strides. Chapman, especially, jumped twelve places to 33rd after scoring an unbeaten 87 in the third match, a knock that included several sixes and earned him the Player of the Match award.
The updated rankings also highlighted the achievements of Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee, who recently joined an elite group of players to hit six sixes in an over in a T20I match. Following his performances at the ACC Men’s T20I Premier Cup, Airee achieved a career-high batting ranking, placing him among the top 50 T20I batters globally.
With the series poised for an exciting conclusion, players from both Pakistan and New Zealand look to further their credentials in the T20I format, while the ICC rankings continue to reflect the dynamic nature of international cricket.