Pakistan opener Saim Ayub has climbed back to the top of the ICC Men’s T20I All-Rounder Rankings, earning the No.1 position after a series of impressive performances in recent international cricket.
The 23-year-old regained the top spot following Pakistan’s dominant 3-0 T20I series whitewash against Australia at home, overtaking Zimbabwe’s experienced all-rounder Sikandar Raza. Ayub’s return to the summit highlights his growing influence in the shortest format ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which begins on February 7.
Ayub played a key role in the series against Australia, scoring 119 runs and picking up three wickets across three matches. His consistent contributions with both bat and ball have strengthened Pakistan’s prospects as they aim to secure their second T20 World Cup title and their first since lifting the trophy in 2009.
Pakistan players enjoyed a strong rise across multiple ICC T20I rankings following the series. Spinner Abrar Ahmed moved up two places to second in the T20I bowlers’ rankings and now trails India’s Varun Chakravarthy by just 28 rating points after claiming six wickets against Australia. Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz also made significant progress, jumping eight places to seventh following his five-wicket haul in the final match.
Nawaz additionally advanced to fourth in the T20I all-rounders’ rankings. In the T20I batters’ list, Ayub improved eight spots, while Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha surged 12 places, reflecting Pakistan’s overall momentum ahead of the global tournament.
Meanwhile, several international stars also registered gains, setting the stage for intense competition and further movement in the rankings during the upcoming T20 World Cup.