Saim Ayub Becomes World’s Top T20I All-Rounder

LAHORE: Pakistan’s Saim Ayub has reached the top spot in the ICC T20I all-rounder rankings for the first time. Despite a recent dip in his batting form, his impressive bowling performances pushed him to number one. The 22-year-old overtook India’s Hardik Pandya, who now holds second place. Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi remains in third with 231 points. Ayub’s rise marks a major achievement in his growing cricket career.

Ayub claimed eight wickets in seven matches during the 2025 ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup. His economy rate of 6.40 stood out. His strong bowling displays helped Pakistan secure key wins during the tournament. This consistent performance has earned him global recognition as a dependable all-rounder. His development adds depth to Pakistan’s T20 lineup going forward.

Other Pakistani players also made notable gains in the latest ICC rankings. Mohammad Nawaz rose four spots to 13th among all-rounders, while Faheem Ashraf climbed to 35th. Shaheen Afridi also jumped 15 spots to 56th in the all-rounder list. However, not all rankings moved upward—Shadab Khan, Abbas Afridi, Iftikhar Ahmed, and captain Salman Ali Agha lost ground. These mixed results show a shifting performance trend within the squad.

In the batters’ rankings, Sahibzada Farhan made the biggest move, rising 11 places to 13th with 658 points. Fakhar Zaman climbed six places, while Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Haris also improved their standings. However, veterans Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan continued to slide due to their absence from T20I matches. Both Saim Ayub and Hasan Nawaz also dropped slightly in the batting charts.

The T20I bowlers’ rankings saw Shaheen Afridi move up 12 places to 13th, equaling India’s Axar Patel. Saim Ayub jumped 51 spots to 58th among bowlers, marking an all-round impact. Faheem Ashraf also climbed 26 places to 93rd. However, Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Muqeem, Haris Rauf, and Abbas Afridi all dropped in the rankings. India’s Varun Chakaravarthy remains the top-ranked T20I bowler globally.