Saud Shakeel’s Stellar Performance Propels Him to 15th Spot in ICC Test Rankings, Trailing Virat Kohli by Only One Position. Pakistan’s rising star, Saud Shakeel, has joined the elite ranks of Test cricket’s top batters, finding himself among the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, and Kane Williamson in the top 15 of the ICC Test Rankings. Shakeel’s remarkable feat was achieved after he scored a match-winning double century against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium earlier this month.

With his maiden Test double hundred, Saud Shakeel made a significant leap from the 27th to the 15th position in the ICC Test Rankings for batters. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli, who notched a century in the recently concluded second Test against West Indies, has managed to retain the 14th spot.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma shares the ninth position with Sri Lankan skipper Dimuth Karunaratne, both attaining 759 rating points. Sharma’s impressive performance, including two half-centuries against West Indies in the second Test match, contributed to his rise in the rankings.

However, Rishabh Pant, who has been absent from action since December last year, has dropped to the 12th position. On the other hand, England’s Harry Brook has moved up to the 11th position from 12th after his solid 61-run knock against Australia in the fourth Ashes Test at Emirates Old Trafford.

The top 5 batters in the ICC Test Rankings remain unchanged, with Kane Williamson, Marnus Labuschagne, Joe Root, Travis Head, and Babar Azam retaining their positions.

Saud Shakeel is not the only Pakistani player making strides in the ICC Test Rankings.

In the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, Pakistan displayed a splendid performance, not only owing to Saud Shakeel’s heroics but also due to the contributions of Agha Salman and Abrar Ahmed.

Agha Salman, who scored 83 runs in the first innings and provided crucial support to Shakeel, has climbed an impressive 17 places to secure the 58th position in the latest ICC Test Rankings for batters.

Furthermore, leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed’s exceptional performance, taking six wickets for Pakistan in the first Test, has earned him a notable advancement of 12 spots to reach the 45th position in the ICC Test Rankings for bowlers.