Saim Ayub claims top spot in ICC T20 all-rounder rankings after ‘excellent showings’ against Australia – Sport

Pakistan’s Saim Ayub has reclaimed the top spot in the ICC Men’s T20 All-Rounder Rankings on the back of “some excellent showings” during the recently concluded three-match series against Australia.

Pakistan whitewashed Australia with a 3-0 victory in the series, during which Saim scored 119 run and claimed three wickets.

An announcement by the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Wednesday that Saim moved up one slot to regain the top spot in the monthly rankings, replacing Zimbabwe veteran Sikandar Raza.

The cricket’s governing body said the development “bodes well for Ayub and Pakistan just days out from the start of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as the Asian side look to claim their second title in the 20-over showcase event and their first since they tasted success in the second edition of the tournament back in 2009”.

Meanwhile, Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed also moved up two places to the second spot in the T20 bowler rankings. He grabbed six wickets in the series against Australia and was “now just 28 rating points behind no.1 ranked Varun Chakravarthy of India following six wickets across three matches against the Aussies”, the ICC announcement said.

Fellow spinner Mohammad Nawaz also leaped eight slots to claim the the seventh position on the list following his five-wicket haul in the last match of the series against Australia.

Nawaz also moved up one spot to the fourth position in the T20 all-rounder rankings.

As for the batsman rankings for the shortest format of the game, Saim moved up eight places to the 27th position and Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha leaped 12 slots to claim the 29th position on the list.