Pakistan maintain No.1 spot in ICC T20I rankings despite 0-3 loss; Sri Lanka jump to 7th place

There are some strange inconsistencies in the international ranking system. In February, England found them slipping two spots – from third to fifth – after they lost to lesser favourites West Indies in an away Test series 1-2. Recently, Pakistan, the top-ranked team in the T20Is, suffered a humiliating 0-3 loss to a second-string Sri Lanka at home but still, they remained at the peak.

The Lankans were placed at No.8 before the series and saw themselves improving by one position to No.7.
The latest ICC rankings that got updated on October 10 saw the Men in Green maintaining their top T20I position with a rating of 274 while the islanders pipped Afghanistan to reach the seventh spot with a rating of 241.

England, South Africa, India, Australia and New Zealand are ranked between No.2 and No.6, respectively. Rather, Pakistan have lost a few rating points though and the difference between them and second-placed England is narrowed.

Babar Azam is still No.1 T20I batsman

In individual rankings, too, Pakistan vice-captain Babar Azam maintained his top position in the T20Is although he had a poor outing in the series versus Sri Lanka. He could only 13, 3 and 27 runs in the three matches in Lahore that Pakistan failed to win batting second.

In bowling, Pakistan bowling all-rounder Imad Wasim was placed second while leg-spinner Shadab Khan was at No.4, as per the latest ICC rankings. Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan was leading the bowler’s table. In the all-rounders’ rankings, however, the best rank that a Pakistan player got was 15 and it was veteran Mohammad Hafeez.

Pakistan started the historic series well by winning the ODIs against Lanka 2-0 but then lost the plot in the T20Is. Under-fire captain Sarfaraz Ahmed took the responsibility for the debacle after the series, saying, “When the team isn’t performing then the captain is responsible. We need to improve in all facets. If we keep dropping catches like this in the middle overs, we won’t be able to beat any team.”

Pakistan’s new head coach-cum-chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq was devastated by the T20I result saying there is something seriously wrong in Pakistan’s cricketing system. He brought back veteran players like Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal in the T20Is but they failed to deliver, leaving the coach under criticism.

Here are the latest rankings:

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