LAHORE: Pakistan opener Mohammad Rizwan has made his maiden entry into the top 10 of the ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings after his spectacular performance in Zimbabwe.
The 28-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman’s unbeaten knocks of 82 and 91 in the first and third matches have helped him gain five slots to reach 10th position, overtaking the likes of England captain Eoin Morgan and India opener Rohit Sharma.
Rizwan is the second-highest ranked Pakistan batsman in the list, only behind captain Babar Azam, who is now in third place. Pakistan won the recently concluded series against Zimbabwe 2-1.
Fast bowlers Haris Rauf (up 17 places to 21st) and Mohammad Hasnain (up 52 places to joint-65th) are the other Pakistan players to gain in the latest weekly update to the men’s rankings. Leg-spinner Usman Qadir shares the 65th slot with Hasnain after progressing 12 spots.
Super @iMRizwanPak ⚡
What a 2021 he is having! ???? pic.twitter.com/kZsvvt45N1
— ICC (@ICC) April 27, 2021
For Zimbabwe, Wesley Madhevere has gained 88 places to reach joint 132nd position after finishing as Zimbabwe’s leading scorer in the series with 89 runs while Craig Ervine has advanced 20 slots to 126th position in the latest update, which also takes into account the last three matches of the Nepal tri-series, won by the hosts.
The ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings see Zimbabwe move up one slot to 11th position, gaining three points. Pakistan, who needed to sweep the series to maintain their tally of 262 points, have lost two points but remain fourth in the list.
Minnows Nepal have moved up one slot to 14th position, the Netherlands have slipped one place to 18th while Malaysia are in 31st position.
