After UAE winning streak, Babar Azam climbs to top of ICC Men’s T20I batting rankings

Pakistan's captain Babar Azam celebrates after scoring a half-century (50 runs) during the ICC men’s Twenty20 World Cup cricket match between India and Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on October 24, 2021. (AFP)

• It is a “good little motivation” to be back on top of T20I rankings, Babar says
• Skipper is already ranked number one in One Day International and seventh in Tests

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan captain Babar Azam has returned to the top of the batting table in the latest International Cricket Council ICC Men’s T20I Batting Rankings, the ICC said on Wednesday.
This is the sixth time Babar has surged to the top of the T20I batting charts, while England’s Dawid Malan has slipped to second for the first time since November 2020.
ICC said in a statement that “last looking down from the top in January 2018, Azam has played a pivotal role in Pakistan’s T20 World Cup charge, making 198 runs across four innings, averaging 66 at a strike rate of 124.52.”
Babar’s opening partner Mohammad Rizwan is also now just two points away from breaking into the top-three.
Baber is already ranked No.1 in One Day International (ODIs) and seventh in Tests.
“Contrasting performances in the past week has meant Babar has turned the 11-point deficit into a 36-point lead over Malan. As such, Babar is now the only batter to sit inside the 800-point mark on 834 points, while Malan has slipped to 798 points,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Pakistan are now on 265 points, while India has slipped to 262 points after back-to-back defeats against Pakistan and New Zealand. England led the field with 279 points,” PCB said, speaking about recent T20 world cup matches.
“It is a good little motivation to be back on top of the T20I rankings,” Babar was quoted by the PCB as saying. “But the bigger picture is these performances have helped Pakistan to rise to No.2 and become the first side to qualify for the semifinals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021.”
“In a team game, each and every player has contributed, but we are well aware that the job is half done. Our focus firmly remains to maintain the standards we have set in this competition and finish the tournament like we have started so that we can properly celebrate team and individual achievements.”