Dubai, October 30, 2024- Pakistani Test stars Saud Shakeel and Nauman Ali have achieved significant milestones in the latest ICC rankings. Shakeel climbed into the top 10 of the ICC Men’s Test Batting Rankings, an impressive rise that saw him jump 20 spots to secure the seventh position. Meanwhile, Nauman Ali has also made headlines, entering the top 10 Test bowlers by moving up eight places to ninth.
Shakeel’s stellar performance in Pakistan’s recent home Test series against England played a pivotal role in his ranking boost. Pakistan secured a memorable 2-1 series victory, with Shakeel’s consistency in the middle order and a first-innings lead of 77 runs on a spin-friendly pitch proving instrumental in the decisive third Test.
England’s Joe Root tops the list, followed by New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal, England’s Harry Brook, and Australia’s Steven Smith and Usman Khawaja ahead of Shakeel. Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne, Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis, and New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra occupy the eighth, ninth, and tenth spots, respectively, with Ravindra making an impressive climb.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Babar Azam rose to 18th place. However, Shaheen Shah Afridi dropped one position to 15th. South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada currently leads the Test bowling rankings, while India’s Jasprit Bumrah stands in third place.
