Pakistan’s mystery spinner claims the top T20I bowling position for the first time after a strong run of performances.
Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed has reached the summit of the ICC Men’s T20I bowling rankings for the first time in his international career. The latest rankings, announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC), place the 28-year-old mystery spinner above Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan.
Abrar’s rise adds another milestone to his international career, which has included 10 Tests, 19 ODIs and 38 T20Is. Across all three formats, the Karachi-born bowler has collected 133 international wickets.
Strong Position Across Formats
The Pakistan spinner is also ranked second in the ODI bowling rankings. Rashid remains at the top in ODIs, with a 39-rating-point advantage over Abrar in that format.
Abrar made his Test debut against England in December 2022. He later entered Pakistan’s ODI setup against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in November 2024 before making his T20I debut against New Zealand in Rawalpindi in April 2024.
Impressive T20I Form
Abrar has enjoyed a productive year in T20I cricket, featuring in nine matches for Pakistan and taking 15 wickets. Six of those wickets came during Pakistan’s three-match home series against Australia, where the hosts completed a 3-0 clean sweep in January and February.
His performances have now helped him move to the top of the global T20I bowling rankings.
Focus Shifts to Asian Games
Abrar is currently with Pakistan’s squad preparing for the Asian Games in Japan. The team is undergoing a four-day training camp in Karachi, scheduled to conclude on Thursday.
Speaking to PCB Digital, Abrar said reaching the No. 1 position fulfilled a major ambition after representing Pakistan at international level. He credited consistent hard work and improvements in his bowling for the achievement.
The spinner also highlighted the encouragement received from his teammates, saying their confidence and backing had played an important role in his progress.
With the Asian Games approaching, Abrar’s immediate focus is on contributing to Pakistan’s campaign. He has expressed his desire to perform strongly, help the team win matches and return home with the gold medal.