Afghanistan captain Rahmat Shah has become the first cricketer from his country to enter the top 10 of any category in the ICC Men's Test Player Rankings. The 33-year-old climbed six places to a career-best seventh position among Test batters, according to the ICC website.
Rahmat Shah scored 173 runs off 347 balls in the opening match of the two-Test series against Zimbabwe in Sharjah. The high-scoring contest ended in a draw after both sides posted totals exceeding 500. Zimbabwe posted 504 and 523/5, while Afghanistan replied with 514.
Rahmat Shah Creates History With Maiden Top-10 Finish in ICC Test Rankings
Afghanistan skipper Rahmat Shah scored his fifth Test century and second of the calendar year. Rahmat Shah moved ahead of several established international batters, including India's Shubman Gill, South Africa's Aiden Markram and Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis, in the latest rankings update.
Afghanistan have also made progress in the ODI format. Earlier this month, they climbed to sixth in the ICC Men's ODI Team Rankings, their highest-ever position, after winning a tri-series involving Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.
Zimbabwe veteran Craig Ervine also gained ground in the latest Test batting rankings. He moved up nine places to 48th after remaining unbeaten on a double-century in the second innings of the drawn Sharjah Test.
Kavem Hodge, Jomel Warrican and Justin Greaves Gain in Test Rankings
The conclusion of the ICC World Test Championship series between Bangladesh and the West Indies brought changes to the latest Test rankings. West Indies batter Kavem Hodge climbed 12 places to 52nd, while Bangladesh's Towhid Hridoy moved from outside the top 100 to 60th.
West Indies batter Amir Jangoo made a significant jump of 28 places to reach 62nd. West Indies spinner Jomel Warrican also earned a career-high rating after his Player of the Series performance against Bangladesh. He climbed 11 places to equal 19th in the Test bowling rankings.
Warrican improved his standing in the all-rounders' list as well, gaining four places to reach 31st. His teammate Justin Greaves also moved up one position to share eighth place in the Test all-rounders' rankings.
Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh and Gurnoor Brar Rise in ODI Bowling Rankings
The latest update also rewarded several Indian bowlers following the opening two matches of their ongoing ODI series against New Zealand. Axar Patel made the biggest jump among the three Indians, climbing 23 places to 21st in the ODI bowling rankings.
The left-arm spinner earned the rise after returning figures of 2/28 in the second ODI in Wellington. Arshdeep Singh also improved his position, moving up 11 places to equal 31st after taking four wickets in the series opener in Auckland.
Gurnoor Brar registered another major jump in the bowling standings. The Indian pacer surged from outside the top 100 to 48th and currently leads the series wicket charts with seven scalps.
New Zealand fast bowlers Jacob Duffy and Kyle Jamieson also moved up the ODI bowling rankings. Duffy gained eight places to reach 43rd, while Jamieson made a bigger jump of 24 positions to occupy 60th place.
Also read: Rahmat Shah joins Virat Kohli on Test captaincy throne
