Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf (Left) during second T20I between New Zealand and Pakistan at University of Otago Oval in Dunedin on March 18, 2025
Pakistan’s Ranking Shake-Up After Consecutive Losses to New Zealand
Pakistan’s cricketers have experienced significant shifts in the latest ICC T20I rankings, following their back-to-back defeats against New Zealand in the ongoing five-match series.
Haris Rauf made significant progress, while the rankings gave bad news for Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Shadab Khan—all of whom slipped several spots. Key players from New Zealand, who took advantage of their strong performances, shot up in the rankings.
Can Pakistan recover and reclaim ground in the rankings given two matches yet to play?
Babar Azam Drops Out of the Top Seven
Despite not being part of the ongoing T20I squad, Babar Azam has slipped to eighth place in the ICC T20I batting rankings. The former captain, who previously held the seventh spot with 702 points, has now been overtaken due to his absence from international T20 cricket.
Pakistan’s current white-ball captain, Mohammad Rizwan, remains ninth in the rankings, while Saim Ayub has fallen three places to 62nd after an inconsistent run in recent matches.
Tim Seifert and Finn Allen have made significant advances in the rankings, while New Zealand’s explosive top-order batsmen have shot ahead.
🔹 With 44 and 45 in the first two T20Is against Pakistan, Tim Seifert ascended 20 places to 13th.
🔹 Finn Allen jumped eight spots to 18th, thanks to his contributions of 29 and 38*.
Despite these shifts, Australia’s Travis Head continues to lead the T20I batting rankings, followed by India’s Abhishek Sharma and England’s Phil Salt.
Haris Rauf Moves Up While Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan Drop
Pakistan’s bowling rankings also saw major movements, with Haris Rauf being the only notable gainer while others slipped.
✅ Haris Rauf climbed four places to 26th after taking two wickets in the second T20I against New Zealand.
❌ Shaheen Afridi dropped six places to 29th, struggling to make an impact in the ongoing series.
❌ Abbas Afridi, who hasn’t featured in the series, fell three places to 44th.
❌ Naseem Shah dropped two places to 78th, while Shadab Khan suffered a major setback, falling 10 places to 82nd.
Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy achieved a career-best ranking, moving 23 places up to 12th after taking six wickets in the first two matches against Pakistan.
At the top of the rankings, West Indies spinner Akeal Hosein continues to dominate, with India’s Varun Chakaravarthy and England’s Adil Rashid closely behind.
New Zealand’s Players Dominate the T20I Rankings
New Zealand’s impressive start to the series, which saw them take a commanding 2-0 lead over Pakistan, has been reflected in the latest ICC T20I rankings.
🏏 With aggressive stroke play, Tim Seifert and Finn Allen have dominated the powerplay, therefore undermining Pakistan’s bowling attack.
🏏 Rising in the bowling rankings is evidence of Jacob Duffy’s match-making ability.
Pakistan has an opportunity to reclaim lost ground with two matches left in the series, but performance will have to completely reverse.
Key Takeaways From the ICC T20I Rankings Update
✅ Haris Rauf moves up to 26th after strong performances.
✅ New Zealand’s Tim Seifert (13th) and Finn Allen (18th) continue their rapid rise.
❌ Babar Azam slips to eighth place, while Shaheen Afridi drops to 29th.
❌ Falling 10 points to 82nd, Shadab Khan suffers the most setback.
The next games will be vital in deciding whether Pakistan’s batting and bowling departments can recover their lost ranks.
With Pakistan’s batting and bowling units struggling, the upcoming matches will be crucial in determining whether they can regain their lost positions in the rankings.
Before the series finishes, can Pakistan raise their T20I rankings?
With New Zealand already leading 2-0 in the series, the final two matches are Pakistan’s last opportunity to reverse their downward trend in the rankings.
Pakistan’s batting has failed to fire, with key players struggling for consistency. Their bowlers, who Pakistan needs a good top-order batting performance to recover ground lost in the ICC T20I standings.
✔️ Improved powerplay performance for bowling as well as batting.
✔️ From their pacers and spinners, tighter bowling spells.
The next games will be a trial of Pakistan’s fortitude. Can they flip the script on New Zealand and save the series, or will the Black Cap keep ruling?
In conclusion, Pakistan needs quick changes if it is to recover
Pakistan’s recent challenges in the format mirror their drop in the ICC T20I ranks. Although Haris Rauf’s ascent is encouraging, the overall picture is still worrisome.
Important issues for Pakistan:
❌ Bowlers have not made early breakthroughs; batting consistency has resulted in regular collapses.
❌ The aggressive approach of New Zealand calls for tactical corrections.
❌ Pakistan has two matches left in the series; thus, it needs to move fast if it is to prevent more ranking drops and maintain their credibility.
With two matches left in the series, Pakistan must find solutions quickly if they are to avoid further decline in the rankings and keep their reputation intact.
Will New Zealand’s winning run last, or will Pakistan discover their formula?
FAQs
1. Who is leading the ICC T20I batting rankings?
Currently ranking No. 1 in the ICC T20I batting rankings is Australia’s Travis Head; next are India’s Abhishek Sharma and England’s Phil Salt.
2. Why has Babar Azam slid in the T20I rankings?
Babar Azam slipped from seventh to eighth place due to inactivity in T20I cricket, as he is not part of Pakistan’s ongoing series against New Zealand.
3. Which Pakistani players have dropped in the latest rankings?
Shaheen Afridi dropped six places to 29th, while Shadab Khan fell 10 places to 82nd. Saim Ayub and Abbas Afridi also slid in the ranks.
4. In the ICC T20I ranks, who are the main gainers?
Following outstanding performances against Pakistan, New Zealand’s Tim Seifert (13th), Finn Allen (18th), and Jacob Duffy (12th) have all climbed notably.
5. In the next matches, can Pakistan raise their ICC rating?
Indeed, but Pakistan has to convincingly win the following two games. Excellent performances by important players could enable them to recover in the rankings. Watch all the heated action on myco!
