KABUL – Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan consolidated his position at thetop of the ICC T20I Player Rankings after returning with 12 wickets fromthe just-concluded T20 international series against Bangladesh at Dehradun.
The 19-year-old wonder spinner, termed the best T20 bowler in the world bySachin Tendulkar, has gained 54 points to finish with 813 points, 80 morethan second-placed Shadab Khan of Pakistan.
His compatriots, Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman have also maderemarkable improvements in the ICC T20I Player Rankings after playingimportant parts in a 3-0 defeat of Bangladesh.
Rashid, who was named ICC’s Associate Player of the Year for 2017, toucheda career-high rating of 816 points after a haul of four for 12 in thesecond match.
Nabi has gained 11 spots and reached a career-best eighth rank after takingfour wickets and Mujeeb has jumped 62 slots to 51st place in the latestupdate, which also takes into account the T20I between the Windies and theICC World XI played at Lord’s on 31 May.
Slow bowlers, six of which are leg-spinners, now hold the top ninepositions in the bowlers’ rankings.
Afghanistan all-rounder Samiullah Shenwari, who top-scored in the serieswith 118 runs, has gained 11 spots to reach 44th position among batsmenwhile the Bangladesh batsmen to advance include Mahmudullah (up four placesto 33rd) and Mushfiqur Rahim (up three places to 41st).
Among others to improve their rankings are Windies’ Evin Lewis (up oneplace to fifth among batsmen), Kesrick Williams (up five spots to 41stamong bowlers) and Sri Lanka all-rounder Thisara Perera (up three places to38th among batsmen).
There has been no change of places in the ICC T20I Team Rankings withAfghanistan and Bangladesh retaining their eighth and 10th positions,respectively.
Afghanistan though have gained four points to reach 91 points whileBangladesh have lost five and are on 70, only four more than Scotland, whocan overtake them in an upcoming two-match series against top-rankedPakistan on 12 and 13 June.
Pakistan will gain one point with a 2-0 win in that series, finish with 127points and retain top position with a 1-1 draw but slide to 123 points andthird place in case of a 2-0 loss.
Scotland, who will go past Bangladesh with a 1-1 result, also feature in atri-series with Ireland and the Netherlands from 12-20 June.