ICC T20I rankings: Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed has climbed to the top of the latest ICC Men’s T20I bowling rankings, ending Rashid Khan’s six-month stay at No. 1. Abrar has 736 rating points, just one ahead of Afghanistan’s Rashid, who has 735. India also has two bowlers inside the top 10, with Varun Chakravarthy at No. 7 and Jasprit Bumrah at No. 10.
The latest ICC T20I rankings have produced a major change at the top of the bowling chart. Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed is now the world’s No. 1 T20I bowler after moving ahead of Afghanistan’s superstar spinner Rashid Khan.
The difference between the two bowlers is incredibly small. Abrar sits on 736 rating points, while Rashid has 735. That means a single rating point has separated the two leading bowlers in the latest update.
For Abrar, reaching the summit represents an important moment in his international career. He had already established himself among the leading T20I bowlers, but moving above a player of Rashid’s stature gives the achievement added significance.
Rashid had spent around six months at the top of the T20I bowling rankings before this latest change. His fall to second does not mean he has dropped far from the leading position, though. With only one point separating him from Abrar, the No. 1 position could change again after the next set of international matches.
Abrar Ahmed takes Pakistan back to the top
Abrar’s rise is particularly significant for Pakistan because he becomes the fifth Pakistani bowler to reach No. 1 in the ICC Men’s T20I bowling rankings.
According to The Express Tribune, Abrar joins Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Imad Wasim and Shahid Afridi among Pakistani bowlers who have previously occupied the top position in the T20I bowling rankings.
The latest rankings also show how competitive the top of the T20I bowling chart has become. Australia’s Adam Zampa is third with 700 rating points, while England’s Adil Rashid is fourth with 695. Australia’s Nathan Ellis is fifth on 675, followed closely by England’s Jamie Overton on 674.
That makes the gap between the leading names fairly tight, although Abrar and Rashid currently occupy a clear position at the top.
For Pakistan, the development adds another positive storyline to its bowling group. Abrar’s ranking also highlights the value of consistency in T20 cricket, where a relatively small number of matches can have a noticeable impact on the ICC rating system.
Rashid Khan slips to second after a long stay at No. 1
Rashid Khan’s move to No. 2 is one of the biggest talking points from the latest ICC update.
The Afghanistan leg-spinner has been one of the most consistent performers in T20 cricket around the world for several years. His ability to take wickets in the middle overs, restrict scoring and bowl effectively against aggressive batters has made him a regular fixture near the top of the ICC rankings.
The latest change is therefore more about the extremely narrow gap at the summit than a major fall for Rashid.
He still has 735 rating points, only one behind Abrar. A strong performance in Afghanistan’s upcoming T20I matches could therefore put him back at No. 1.
The rankings can move quickly because ICC ratings are influenced by recent performances, opposition strength and other factors. That makes the battle between Abrar and Rashid one worth watching as the T20I calendar continues.
Two Indian bowlers remain in the top 10
India also has two representatives in the latest ICC T20I bowling top 10.
Varun Chakravarthy is ranked seventh with 671 rating points, making him India’s highest-ranked bowler in the current T20I chart. Jasprit Bumrah is 10th with 651 points.
Varun’s presence in the top 10 is notable because the spinner has previously reached the No. 1 position in the ICC T20I bowling rankings. His career-best rating stands at 818, showing just how high his ranking has climbed during his international career.
The latest ranking, however, places him at No. 7. He is 65 points behind Abrar at the top.
Bumrah, meanwhile, continues to occupy a place among the world’s leading T20I bowlers. His current rating of 651 puts him 25 points behind Varun.
With both bowlers still active at international level, their positions could change considerably depending on their upcoming performances.
ICC T20I bowling rankings: latest top 10
| Rank | Player | Team | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abrar Ahmed | Pakistan | 736 |
| 2 | Rashid Khan | Afghanistan | 735 |
| 3 | Adam Zampa | Australia | 700 |
| 4 | Adil Rashid | England | 695 |
| 5 | Nathan Ellis | Australia | 675 |
| 6 | Jamie Overton | England | 674 |
| 7 | Varun Chakravarthy | India | 671 |
| 8 | Mohammad Nawaz | Pakistan | 658 |
| 9 | Wanindu Hasaranga | Sri Lanka | 656 |
| 10 | Jasprit Bumrah | India | 651 |
The latest table shows that Pakistan has two bowlers in the top 10, while India has two. England and Australia also have two representatives each.
What makes Abrar’s rise interesting?
The most interesting part of this ranking update is the margin at the top. Abrar does not have a huge lead over Rashid. Instead, he has moved to No. 1 by the smallest possible margin shown in the current rankings.
That means the battle for the top spot remains wide open.
For Abrar, staying at No. 1 will now be the challenge. Reaching the summit is one thing, but maintaining that position against a player such as Rashid Khan requires continued performances.
For Rashid, the situation is equally clear. He does not need a huge jump to reclaim the top position. With just one rating point separating him from Abrar, even a small shift in the next rankings could change the order again.
Meanwhile, Varun and Bumrah will have their own targets. Varun will look to close the gap with the leading bowlers, while Bumrah will aim to climb from 10th after continuing his international career across formats.
The latest rankings therefore give T20 cricket fans several storylines to follow. Pakistan has a new No. 1 bowler, Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan has slipped to second, and India still has two of its biggest bowling names inside the top 10.
For now, though, Abrar Ahmed has the crown.
The Pakistan spinner’s 736 rating points have taken him above Rashid’s 735, making him the latest No. 1 bowler in the ICC Men’s T20I rankings. Whether he can hold that position for long could become one of the interesting ranking battles to watch in the coming weeks.
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