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BAI– August 6, 2025: Pakistan’s recent T20I series win over the West Indies has sparked a major shake-up in the ICC Men’s T20I Rankings, with several young and emerging players making significant gains — and one name leading the charge: Saim Ayub.
The left-handed opener dazzled fans and selectors alike, finishing as the top scorer of the 2-1 series with 130 runs, including two impressive half-centuries. His performance didn’t just power Pakistan to a morale-boosting series victory — it also rocketed him 25 spots up the ICC Batting Rankings, landing him at 37th with 559 rating points — his first-ever entry into the top 40.
But Saim wasn’t the only star to rise.
+ Breakout Performers
Hassan Nawaz, known for his aggressive middle-order hitting, made the biggest leap among Pakistan batters. His explosive 79-run tally saw him climb 24 spots to 30th with 569 points, overtaking more established names.
Sahibzada Farhan, another top-order talent, impressed with 91 runs over three innings, jumping 34 places to reach 63rd.
Fakhar Zaman and Salman Ali Agha also climbed modestly to 78th and 76th, respectively, showcasing growing consistency.
+ Veteran Slips
While the new generation surged, some big names saw their rankings dip:
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, both yet to feature in T20Is this year, dropped three spots each to 17th and 19th.
Mohammad Haris, after a lackluster series, fell a concerning 21 places to 86th.
+Bowling: Bright Spots Amid Challenges
Pakistan’s bowling rankings showed mixed fortunes:
No Pakistani bowler currently features in the top 20.
Haris Rauf held steady at 26th, while Abbas Afridi slipped to 27th.
Sufiyan Muqeem, a left-arm spinner turning heads, made a massive 69-place jump to 34th, thanks to his sharp spin and economy.
Mohammad Nawaz was another gainer, leaping 51 spots to 56th, while Shaheen Afridi dropped to 36th.
Shadab Khan and Abrar Ahmed fell to 72nd and 60th, respectively.
+ All-Rounder Rankings: Saim Again Shines
Saim Ayub’s impact wasn’t limited to his batting.
The young star's handy spin and overall contributions pushed him a staggering 70 spots up the ICC T20I All-Rounder Rankings, placing him at 24th — an incredible jump that signals his all-round potential.
Other all-rounder movements include:
Mohammad Nawaz rising to 36th.
Shadab Khan dropping to 19th.
Iftikhar Ahmed and Faheem Ashraf now at 70th and 77th, respectively.
+ Global Standings
India’s Abhishek Sharma continues to dominate the batting charts.
Australia’s Travis Head and India’s Tilak Varma round out the top three.
Among all-rounders, Hardik Pandya (India) leads the way, followed by Dipendra Singh Airee (Nepal) and Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan).
+ A New Era for Pakistan T20I Cricket?
This rankings update not only reflects Pakistan’s growing bench strength but also marks a potential generational shift. With younger players like Saim Ayub and Hassan Nawaz stepping up and delivering on the big stage, the future looks bright for the Green Shirts — especially with the T20 World Cup looming on the horizon.
Stay tuned — the next few months could be defining for Pakistan’s T20
Sports ledger editorial team
COSMOS ABASITA.
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