The ICC released the weekly update of their rankings with the latest ICC T20I batting rankings revealing that India captain Virat Kohli is still firm at no.5 spot, while Pakistan’s Babar Azam moved to no.2 spot.
Babar Azam made a strong 47-point surge to overtake Australia's Aaron Finch in the T20I rankings after scoring 122 in the third T20I match against South Africa. He is still 48 points behind the top-ranked Dawid Malan of England.
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However, a three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe may help Babar move towards the top spot, which he had occupied till November last year. Opener Fakhar Zaman gained 17 slots to reach the 33rd position after scores of eight not out and 60 in the last two matches.
Mohammad Rizwan also moved to career-best 15th spot in the T20I batting rankings. Shaheen Afridi has attained a career best-equaling 11th spot while Faheem Ashraf (up 12 places to 16th), Mohammad Nawaz (up to four places to 24th), and Haris Rauf (up 43 places to 38th) have also moved up in the bowlers' list.
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For South Africa, Rassie van der Dussen has advanced three slots to the sixth position. Aiden Markram (up 31 places to 34th) and Janneman Malan (up 52 places to 73rd) are the other Proteas batsmen to move up.
Pakistan's 3-1 win in the series against South Africa comes as a morale booster but they remain in the fourth position in the ICC Men's T20I Team Rankings after gaining two points and reaching an aggregate of 262. South Africa remained at the 6th spot.
However top-ranked England has lost two points and is now on 249.
(ANI inputs)
