Dubai, Sept 24, 2025 — The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released the latest T20 player rankings, bringing plenty of good news for Pakistan cricket fans as spinner Abrar Ahmed and pacer Shaheen Afridi made notable gains.

Bowlers’ Rankings

At the top of the ICC T20 bowling charts, India’s Varun Chakravarthy holds the No.1 position, followed by New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy at No.2 and West Indies’ Akeal Hosein at No.3.

Pakistan’s mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed made the biggest leap of the week — jumping from 12th place to 4th after a series of impressive match-winning performances. His sharp turn and control have made him one of the most feared bowlers in the shortest format.

Fast-bowling spearhead Shaheen Afridi also gained ground, climbing two spots to 25th place, while fellow pacer Haris Rauf surged nine places to 28th.

Not all Pakistani bowlers enjoyed an upward trajectory — Mohammad Nawaz slipped 13 places to 46th, and Sufiyan Muqeem dropped three spots to 14th. On the other hand, India’s Hardik Pandya climbed six positions to No.60.

Batters’ Rankings

In the batting charts, India’s Abhishek Sharma continues to dominate at No.1. England’s Phil Salt sits at No.2, while India’s Tilak Varma jumped one spot to claim No.3.

Among Pakistanis, opener Sahibzada Farhan stole the limelight with a massive 31-place rise, now standing at 24th following his excellent form in the Asia Cup. However, Saim Ayub dropped eight positions, sliding down to 55th.

Captain Salman Ali Agha and veteran opener Fakhar Zaman each improved three spots, now ranked 65th and 66th respectively.

All-Rounders’ Rankings

The all-rounders’ list sees India’s Hardik Pandya holding firm at the top, followed by Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan at No.2 and Zimbabwe’s ever-consistent Sikandar Raza at No.3.

Pakistan’s Saim Ayub remains strong at No.5, while Mohammad Nawaz gained one position to reach No.17. Meanwhile, Faheem Ashraf made a significant climb of 12 places, now sitting at No.39.

Pakistan’s Rising Momentum

The new rankings highlight Pakistan’s growing depth across formats. While some players experienced setbacks, the surge of Abrar Ahmed into the top four bowlers and Sahibzada Farhan’s dramatic rise among batters indicate a new wave of talent making its mark.

With the T20 World Cup looming in 2026, these gains could prove vital in boosting Pakistan’s confidence and squad balance.