Saim Ayub regains No.1 spot in ICC rankings for all-rounders

Saim Ayub has reclaimed the number one all-rounder position in the ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings in this week’s update. He reached career-best rating points of 295 as he moved past Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza after taking a wicket for 17 in his four overs before striking 36 for Pakistan in the final of the Tri-Series against Sri Lanka.

Ayub’s movements also include a 12-slot leap to 39th in the bowlers’ list and a move by two places to 35th in the batters’ list.

The biggest move in T20Is this week came from Sri Lanka’s Kamil Mishara, who rocketed up 91 slots to 18th place in the batters’ list, thanks to successive innings of 76 and 59 against Pakistan propelled him into the world’s top 20 batters for the first time.

Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis is two slots behind him in 20th place from 22nd last week. Bangladesh’s Parvez Hossain made a big move this week, advancing 21 places to 38th in their 2-1 home series win against Ireland, thanks to scores of 43 and 33 not out in the last two matches.

Ayub’s teammate, Abrar Ahmed, had a successful Tri-Series, which enabled him to continue his march up the bowling table. He now lies fourth, just eight points behind Jacob Duffy in second place.

Also enjoying rewards this week is Mohammad Nawaz – Player of the Series in the Tri-Series – who is at a career-best 11th.

India superstar Virat Kohli’s 83rd international century came against South Africa in the first ODI of their three-match series in Ranchi. His glorious 135 from 120 deliveries moved him one place to fourth in the ODI batters’ list, with his 751 rating points just 32 behind teammate Rohit Sharma at the top of the list.

India’s stand-in captain, KL Rahul, moved two slots to joint 14th after his 56-ball 60 in their 17-run triumph over the visitors.

Matthew Breetzke is in joint-30th position thanks to his innings of 72 and boasts 614 runs in his first ten ODIs, the second-highest tally in history, and only behind his countryman Janneman Malan, who made 645.

This week’s update also includes movements in the Men’s Test Player Rankings following South Africa’s historic two-nil ICC World Test Championship series win in India. Their massive, 408-run victory in Guwahati saw rewards for some of their standout players.

Marco Jansen climbed four slots to a career-best second place in the all-rounders’ list. He rose five places to fifth among the bowlers and leapt 21 slots to 75th in the batting rankings thanks to his 93-run knock in the first innings.

Senuran Muthusamy’s maiden Test century helped him climb 28 places to 63rd, while his teammates Kyle Verreynne (up three slots to 38th), Ryan Rickelton (up five to 39th), Tony de Zorzi (up five slots to 45th) and Tristan Stubbs (up 16 slots to 47th) also made progress up the charts.

Simon Harmer – having started the series in 45th place - now finds himself just outside the world’s top ten bowlers, as his nine-wicket match haul moved him up 13 places in the week to 11th place.

Ravindra Jadeja reached a career-best batting points tally of 653 and his highest position of 23rd after his second-innings half-century.