Bureau Report
Karachi: Pakistan’s Test skipper Azhar Ali and wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan have improved in ICC Test batsmen rankings whereas Babar Azam has retained his fifth position.
The 35-year-old Azhar has jumped to 23rd position after scoring a brilliant century in final Test against England. Rizwan, who was awarded Pakistan’s player of the series, has gained three places and is now in 72nd position. Rizwan scored 53 and added 138 runs for the sixth wicket with Azhar in Pakistan’s first innings score of 273.
On the other hand, Asad Shafiq (26th), Shan Masood (29th), Abid Ali (59th) and Fawad Alam have slipped in the latest rankings.
In the bowling department, Mohammad Abbas, who rised to number 8 after second Test has slipped to 13th spot. Leg-spinner Yasir Shah has dropped one place to 23rd spot, Shaheen Shah Afridi has stayed in 33rd spot and Naseem has dropped to 57th position.
England’s James Anderson, who became the first-ever pacer to take 600 wickets, has moved up to eighth spot in the bowler rankings.
Zak Crawley, who scored 267, has ascended 53 spots to reach a career-best 28th position. Jos Buttler has reached a career-best 637 rating points and 21st position after his innings of 152.
