Afghanistan captain Rahmat Shah has made history by becoming the first player from his country to enter the top 10 in any category of the ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings.
Rahmat climbed six spots to seventh in the rankings for Test batters after his innings of 173 in the opening match of Afghanistan’s two-game series with Zimbabwe in Sharjah. The in-form right-hander also reached a new career-high rating.
It was Rahmat’s fifth Test century and his second this year. The 33-year-old jumped ahead of India captain Shubman Gill, South Africa opener Aiden Markram and Sri Lanka left-hander Kamindu Mendis to earn a spot inside the top 10 for the very first time.
The achievement caps a strong fortnight for Afghanistan. Earlier this month, they reached their highest-ever position in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings, rising to sixth after winning a tri-series against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.
Test batters and bowlers on the move
Rahmat was not the only player to gain ground after that drawn Test in Sharjah. Zimbabwe veteran Craig Ervine jumped nine spots to 48th after his unbeaten double-century in the second innings.
The conclusion of the ICC World Test Championship series between Bangladesh and the West Indies also produced eye-catching progress. Kavem Hodge rose 12 places to 52nd, Towhid Hridoy climbed from outside the top 100 to 60th, and Amir Jangoo advanced 28 rungs to 62nd in the rankings for Test batters.
West Indies spinner Jomel Warrican also had a big series. He set a new career-high rating on the rankings for Test bowlers after rising 11 spots to equal 19th, following his Player of the Series performances for the Caribbean side. He also gained four places to 31st among Test all-rounders. Teammate Justin Greaves had an excellent series too, moving up one place to equal eighth among Test all-rounders.
ODI rankings shake-up
There are also changes in the latest ODI rankings following the first two matches of the series between New Zealand and India. The movement is good news for a trio of India bowlers, less than 12 months before the start of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
All-rounder spinner Axar Patel rose 23 spots to 21st among ODI bowlers after taking 2/28 in the second match in Wellington. Fellow left-armer Arshdeep Singh gained 11 slots to equal 31st following a four-wicket haul in the series opener in Auckland.
India pacer Gurnoor Brar is the leading wicket-taker of the series so far, with seven scalps. The right-armer rose from outside the top 100 to 48th among ODI bowlers.
New Zealand’s seamers also made progress. Jacob Duffy climbed eight slots to equal 43rd, and Kyle Jamieson rose 24 rungs to 60th.