Pakistan’s mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed has taken a giant leap in the ICC Men’s T20I Bowling Rankings, moving into the top five for the first time in his career. The 25-year-old leg-break specialist jumped 12 places and now sits at No. 4 with 703 points, putting him within touching distance of the coveted top spot.
Abrar’s rise has been powered by back-to-back impressive spells in the Asia Cup. Against the UAE, he returned figures of 2 for 13, choking the run flow in the middle overs. A few days later, he turned in a miserly performance against Sri Lanka, conceding just eight runs in his four overs while picking up a wicket. Those performances didn’t just change the course of the matches — they sent a clear signal that Pakistan have found a genuine match-winner in the shortest format.
At the top of the rankings, India’s Varun Chakaravarthy continues to hold firm, with the conditions in the UAE suiting his style of bowling as well. But with Abrar breathing down his neck, the race for No. 1 suddenly looks wide open.
Pakistan’s bowling attack had more good news too. Haris Rauf, who had been under pressure after an inconsistent run, jumped nine places to break into the top 30. In the batting charts, Pakistan’s Sahabzada Farhan also surged forward, while India’s Abhishek Sharma remains the No. 1 ranked T20I batter. Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman, meanwhile, clawed his way back into the top 10 among bowlers.
Beyond the numbers, cricket fans also got to witness a lighter moment in the Pakistan-Sri Lanka clash. After taking wickets, Abrar and Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga playfully copied each other’s signature celebrations before sharing a laugh and an embrace. For many supporters, it was a reminder that the spirit of the game still lives on, even in high-stakes contests.
For Abrar, though, the bigger story is momentum. If he can keep this form going, there’s every chance he could soon be the man at the very top of the T20I bowling world.
