Afghanistan captain Rahmat Shah has made history by becoming the first player from his country to break into 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 scoring 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 innings helped the 33-year-old leap ahead of India captain Shubman Gill, South Africa opener Aiden Markram and Sri Lanka left-hander Kamindu Mendis, earning him a place inside the top 10 for the very first time.
It 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.
Craig Ervine and Bangladesh-West Indies movers
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 rose 28 rungs to 62nd in the rankings for Test batters.
West Indies spinner Jomel Warrican also enjoyed a big rise. He climbed 11 spots to equal 19th in the rankings for Test bowlers, a new career-high rating, 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.
Changes in the ODI rankings
The latest ODI rankings also reflect changes following the first two matches of the series between New Zealand and India. The movement is good news for three 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 leads the series wicket-takers with seven scalps. The right-armer rose from outside the top 100 to 48th among ODI bowlers.
There was also good news for two New Zealand seamers. Jacob Duffy climbed eight slots to equal 43rd, and Kyle Jamieson rose 24 rungs to 60th.