DUBAI: Pakistan batsman Azhar Ali and West Indies leggie Devendra Bishoo have attained career-best rankings in the ICC Test player rankings that were released a day after conclusion of the 1st Test between Pakistan and West Indies at the Dubai International Stadium.
Azhar Ali, who became just the fourth Pakistani batsman after Hanif Mohammad, Inzamamul Haq and Younis Khan to score a triple century in Tests, earned 62 points, helping him climb five places to reach a career-best 12th place. He now trails Pakistani captain Misbahul Haq by a solitary point. Younus Khan continues to be the highest ranked Pakistani batsman in the list at fifth place.
Darren Bravo, who scored a fighting century in the second innings, his eighth in Tests, returned to the top-20, joining Sarfaraz Ahmed, who jumped eight places to reach the same position.
Steve Smith continues to be the highest-ranked batsman in Tests, followed by Joe Root and Hashim Amla. India captain Virat Kohli slipped one place, and now sits in the 17th spot. Ajinkya Rahane continues to be the highest-ranked Indian batsman in the sixth spot.
In the bowling rankings, Bishoo extended his lead over teammate Shannon Gabriel, placed 48th, to reach the 30th spot, rising 11 places from his previous spot. Pakistan’s Wahab Riaz was also a beneficiary from the Test match, reaching a career-best rank of 26.
Ravichandran Ashwin continues to lead the bowling charts, followed closely by Dale Steyn and James Anderson. Yasir Shah, who recently became the joint second-fastest to 100 wickets, retained his position at the sixth spot. Comeback man Mohammad Amir gained four places to reach 60.
The imminent England-Bangladesh series will see ninth-ranked hosts Bangladesh lock horns with the fourth-ranked tourists. They will usurp third-placed Australia if they manage to win the series 2-0.
