Pakistan received a timely boost ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as dynamic youngster Saim Ayub surged back to the No.1 position in the ICC Men’s T20I All-Rounder Rankings, underlining his growing impact on the international stage.
The 23-year-old reclaimed the summit after a dominant home series against Australia, where Pakistan completed a clinical 3-0 whitewash, with Ayub contributing 119 runs and three wickets across the three matches.
His rise sees him replace Zimbabwe veteran Sikandar Raza at the top, giving Pakistan renewed confidence just days before the global showpiece begins, as they chase a second T20 World Cup crown and their first since the 2009 triumph.
Pakistan’s rankings surge didn’t stop there, with spinner Abrar Ahmed climbing to No.2 among T20I bowlers after picking up six wickets, while left-arm all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz jumped eight spots to seventh, highlighted by a decisive five-wicket haul in the final match against Australia. Nawaz also strengthened Pakistan’s depth by moving to fourth on the all-rounders’ list, reflecting the team’s balanced firepower.
Accordingly, several global stars made gains in the batting charts, with Abhishek Sharma retaining top spot and the likes of Jos Buttler, Pathum Nissanka, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tim Seifert all inching upward. But for Pakistan, the spotlight firmly remains on Ayub, whose return to No.1 signals perfect timing, peak form, and serious title intent heading into cricket’s biggest T20 stage.
