DUBAI: Pakistan’s top-order batsman Imam-ul-Haq and spinner Asif Afridi have made significant gains in the latest ICC Test rankings, while some of their counterparts have seen a decline.
Imam-ul-Haq has moved up two places to 51st with 541 rating points and Shafiq has moved up one place to 56th with 527 rating points. Conversely, middle-order batsman South Shakeel has slipped from ninth to 10th with 734 points.
Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and former captain Babar Azam have slipped two places each and are now ranked 22nd and 23rd respectively.
In other changes, T20I captain Salman Ali Agha slipped one place to 28th, while Shaun Masood retained his position of 44th.
Kamran Ghulam moved to the 84th position, while Amir Jamal and Saim Ayub slipped one place each to the 95th and 96th positions respectively.
England’s Joe Root is at the top, followed by New Zealand’s Kane Williamson. Australia’s Travis Head joins Steve Smith to become the third best batsman.
Pakistan spinner Noaman Ali retained the fourth spot in the ICC Test bowlers’ rankings. Shaheen Afridi remains at the 23rd position with 632 points.
Mohammad Abbas and Sajid Khan slipped one place each to 27th and 28th, while Abrar Ahmed remained at 51st.
Meanwhile, fast bowler Amir Jamal moved up one place to 78th and off-spinner Asif Afridi climbed to 95th with 224 points.
India’s Jasprit Bumrah leads the Test bowlers’ rankings, with Australia’s Pat Cummins rising to second, pushing teammate Mitchell Starc to third.