Rankings joy for Afghanistan as new No.1 all-rounder is crowned
A strong start to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 has seen a host of players from Afghanistan make good ground on the updated player rankings.
Afghanistan’s unbeaten start to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup has seen one of their star performers rise to the top of the ICC Men's T20I All-Rounder Rankings.
The Asian side have won both of their contests in the USA and West Indies thus far at the 20-over showcase and a host of their players have been in scintillating touch with bat and ball.
Veteran Mohammad Nabi is the big winner in the latest rankings update, with the 39-year-old rising to the No.1 spot on the list for all-rounders following his recent two-wicket haul against New Zealand in Guyana.
Afghanistan continue dream run with confident win over New Zealand
Nabi jumps up two places to first on the updated T20I rankings for all-rounders, with Australia's Marcus Stoinis rising three places to claim second spot and previous No.1-ranked player Shakib Al Hasan drooping four rungs to fifth as a result of the major shake-up at the top.
It's not just Nabi who is making the most of Afghanistan's impressive start to the T20 World Cup, with a trio of his teammates also making good ground on the latest rankings for T20I batters and bowlers.
Fazalhaq Farooqi's career-best figures secure Afghanistan win
Opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the leading run-scorer at the T20 World Cup thus far with 156 runs from two innings and the in-form right-hander moves up eight places to 12th and reaches a new career-high rating on the updated list for T20I batters.
India's Suryakumar Yadav remains well out in front of the T20I batter rankings, with Pakistan's Babar Azam (up one place to third), England's Jos Buttler (up two spots to fifth), West Indies' Brandon King (up one rung to seventh) and Australia's Travis Head (up six spots to 10th) all gaining ground inside the top 10 following good starts to the tournament.
Pakistan beat Canada by seven wickets in the Group A game in New York.
England spinner Adil Rashid holds on to top spot on the latest T20I rankings for bowlers, but there is plenty of movement behind both him and second-placed Wanindu Hasaranga of Sri Lanka.
Afghanistan duo Rashid Khan (up four spots to third) and Fazalhaq Farooqi (up six places to to equal fourth) make progress following excellent showings at the T20 World Cup, while South Africa pacer Anrich Nortje (up four rungs to equal fourth) also makes ground on the back of his eight wickets from three matches.
There is also some joy for a trio of Bangladesh players, with Mustafizur Rahman (up 10 spots to 13th, Taskin Ahmed (up eight places to 19th) and Rishad Hossain (up 24 places to 30th) making eye-catching ground following decent hauls for their side over the last week against Sri Lanka and South Africa.
A comfortable win sees Australia into the next round