Imran Tahir drops in rankings

PAKISTAN’S ICC Champions Trophy-winning side’s member Imad Wasim has become the number-one ranked T20I bowler after South Africa’s Imran Tahir, pictured, lost ground after the conclusion of the series against England.

In the latest T20I player rankings for T20I bowlers, which was updated a day after England beat South Africa 2-1 on Sunday, Tahir has slipped two places after he managed only one wicket in two matches. His drop to third means Wasim has surged to the top for the first time in his career, with India’s fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah rising to second.

In the bowlers’ table, South Africa’s Chris Morris has shot up 32 places to 29th, while England’s Liam Plunkett has jumped 26 places to 38th.

In the batting table, India’s Virat Kohli, Aaron Finch of Australia and Kane Williamson of New Zealand have retained the top three positions.

However, AB de Villiers and Jason Roy are the biggest movers following the just-concluded series.

De Villiers, the leading rungetter in the series with 146 runs, has returned to the top 20 in 20th position after rising 12 places, while Roy’s series aggregate of 103 runs has helped him achieve a career-high 25th position after jumping 26 places.

There is no change in the top three of the all-rounders’ table which is headed by Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh, followed by Glenn Maxwell of Australia and Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi.

Meanwhile, in the T20I team rankings, England has moved into outright second position.

It had started the series level with Pakistan on 121 points, but has now moved to 123 points to trail number-one ranked New Zealand by two points.

In contrast, South Africa has dropped one point to join Australia on 110 points.

However, it is ranked ahead of Australia by a fraction of a point, and occupies the sixth position.