Babar Azam reclaims no.1 spot in ICC rankings

Pakistan ace batter Babar Azam has reclaimed the top position in the recently updated ICC ODI batters rankings. The former Pakistan skipper dethroned his Indian counterpart Shubman Gill to become the number one ranked ODI batter.

As per the ICC ranking, Babar has 824 points, 14 more than the Indian opener’s 810. Interestingly, the third and fourth spots of the list are also occupied by Indian batsmen, Virat Kohli, 775, and Rohit Sharma, 754, respectively.

On the bowler’s end, both Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav took a dip one spot in their ODI rankings. India batter Suryakumar Yadav solidified his position at the top of the ICC Men’s T20I rankings following his astonishing performance in the recently concluded T20I series against South Africa.

Furthermore, veteran English spinner Adil Rashid has moved two places up to claim the top position in the ICC T20I bowlers’ rankings.

Australia's Starc and Pat Cummins land record IPL deals in auction

DUBAI: Australia’s Mitchell Starc became the most expensive player in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after attracting an eye-watering $2.98 million bid from Kolkata Knight Riders in the players’ auction on Tuesday. Australia captain Pat Cummins briefly held that honor after Sunrisers Hyderabad agreed to splash $2.46 million for his service before Starc bettered that mark. Barely a month after leading Australia to the 50-overs World Cup title in India, Cummins entered the auction with a base price of 20 million Indian rupees ($240,473). IPL heavyweights Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings were initially interested in him

Rashid’s impressive outings in the ongoing series against West Indies have helped him pip Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan and India’s Ravi Bishnoi in the race. Thus, Rashid becomes only the second English bowler after Graeme Swann to occupy the number one position.

Among others, Tabraiz Shamsi (up three places to ninth) and Akeal Hosein (up three places to sixth) have made noticeable gains in the bowlers’ rankings.

In the Test bowler’s rankings, Australia’s captain Pat Cummins is up one place to third, Nathan Lyon jumped three spots to fifth, Mitchell Starc rose two places to eighth and Josh Hazlewood has climbed two spots to 10th as India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin continues to hold sway at the top.