Afghanistan captain Rahmat Shah has achieved something no player from his country has managed before. Following a brilliant 173-run knock in the opening Test Match against Zimbabwe in Sharjah, the 33-year-old right-hander has climbed into the top 10 of the ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings for batters. This historic moment marks a major milestone for Afghan cricket on the world stage.
Shah’s sixth-position jump in the rankings reflects the impact of his fifth Test century and second of the year. The Afghanistan skipper now sits at seventh place, surpassing some established names in international cricket. His new career-high rating places him ahead of India captain Shubman Gill, South Africa opener Aiden Markram, and Sri Lanka left-hander Kamindu Mendis. The landmark comes at a time when Afghanistan cricket is riding high in the international arena.
Shah’s Masterclass and Zimbabwe’s Response
The drawn Test Match in Sharjah between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe produced impressive individual performances from both sides. Shah’s 173 not only helped Afghanistan in their first innings but also earned him significant ranking points. Zimbabwe veteran Craig Ervine matched the occasion with an outstanding effort of his own. Batting in the second innings, Ervine remained unbeaten with a double-century, a performance that lifted him nine spots to 48th position in the Test rankings.
Broader Impact on World Rankings
The ranking movements extended beyond the Afghanistan-Zimbabwe series. The ICC World Test Championship clash between Bangladesh and the West Indies also produced notable gainers. Kavem Hodge jumped 12 places to 52nd, while Bangladesh’s Towhid Hridoy made a significant jump from outside the top 100 to 60th. Amir Jangoo climbed an impressive 28 rungs to reach 62nd position.
In bowling rankings, the West Indies’ Jomel Warrican earned a new career-high rating. His Player of the Series performance saw him rise 11 places to joint 19th among Test bowlers. Warrican also strengthened his position as an all-rounder, gaining four places to move to 31st. His teammate Justin Greaves contributed to the Caribbean side’s strong showing, moving up one place to joint eighth in the Test all-rounders list.
Beyond Test cricket, recent ODI series between New Zealand and India have already produced significant ranking shifts. India’s bowling contingent has made impressive gains less than a year before the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. Axar Patel surged 23 places to 21st among ODI bowlers following his 2 for 28 in Wellington. Arshdeep Singh climbed 11 slots to joint 31st after taking four wickets in Auckland. Gurnoor Brar, India’s leading wicket-taker in the series with seven scalps, rose from outside the top 100 to 48th. New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy and Kyle Jamieson also made gains at eight and 24 places respectively.
- Rahmat Shah becomes first Afghan cricketer to reach top 10 in any ICC Test rankings category
- Shah’s 173 against Zimbabwe moved him to seventh place in Test batter rankings
- The Afghanistan captain surpassed Shubman Gill, Aiden Markram, and Kamindu Mendis in rankings
- Craig Ervine’s unbeaten double-century lifted him nine places to 48th
- Jomel Warrican achieved career-high rating on Test bowler rankings at joint 19th
- Multiple Indian bowlers gained ranking points ahead of the 2024 ODI World Cup