PAK v ZIM 2020: Babar Azam nears top spot in T20I rankings after dominating Zimbabwe

Babar topped the run-charts in Pakistan's 3-0 series win in Rawalpindi.

Babar Azam | GettyTopping the run-charts with 133 runs in the three-match series versus Zimbabwe, Pakistan captain Babar Azam closed in on the No.1 spot in ICC T20I rankings, currently possessed by England's Dawid Malan. 

In the latest update to the rankings on Wednesday (November 10), Babar inched two rating points closer to Malan after playing knocks of 82 and 51 in the first two T20Is in Rawalpindi. The captain didn't bat in his team's victory in the third which sealed the series 3-0 in Pakistan's favour. 

Read Also: PCB names Babar Azam as Pakistan's new Test captain

Babar's rating points went from 869 to 871 with those two innings. He'll have a chance to further reduce the gap with Malan through the forthcoming series in New Zealand. There wasn't any other major change in the T20I rankings within the top 10. 

Babar would want to be reinstated at the numero uno which he has had for a whopping 774 days at four stretches of his career. He was upstaged by Malan in September when the Englishman batted terrifically in the close series win over Australia. 

Haider Ali's 100 runs at a strike-rate of 140.85 in the series have seen a massive jump in his ranking of 639 places. He is now 110th in the list of batsmen. 

Usman Qadir, son of the legendary Pakistan leg-spinner Abdul Qadir, has also entered the rankings in 207th spot after his crafty wrist-spin fetched him 8 wickets versus Zimbabwe. 

Mohammad Hasnain (up 43 places to 81st), Wahab Riaz (up six places to 103rd) and Haris Rauf (up 51 places to 108th) were other beneficiaries from Pakistan camp. 

(Inputs from ANI)

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 12 Nov, 2020

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