The International Cricket Council has recently come with the latest rankings 2024. Ample discussion took place among all cricket fans and enthusiasts present worldwide. It reflects star players’ performance under the Test, T20, and ODI formats. Both Saud Shakeel and Babar Azam of Pakistani cricket team have been bestowed mixed fortunes on their career best. Saud was given a career rank whereas, on the other hand, Babar’s ranking worsened. Here are the implications and details on the recent updates:.
Test Rankings: Saud Shakeel’s Rise and Babar Azam’s Fall
It has been Saud Shakeel’s remarkable consistency in Tests that has pleased everyone. As a result, he has leapfrogged three places and attained the 6th position; it is a career best, and the development speaks for how important he is becoming to the Pakistan Test squad.
Babar Azam, on the other hand, who has also seen a two-spot drop and is now ranked 17th, has not been one of the most influential persons in Pakistan cricket.
Decline in Test rankings for him would have been based on his performance in the recent longer format of the game. He failed to meet expectations at times.
Top Test Batters:
- Harry Brook (England) – 1st
- Joe Root (England) – 2nd
- Kane Williamson (New Zealand) – 3rd
In the bowling section, India’s Jasprit Bumrah continues to lead with 907 points. The Australian pacers Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins follow him. Pakistan’s Nauman Ali is the only national bowler in the Top 10, but has slipped one place to 9th.
T20 Rankings: Challenges for Babar and Rizwan
Both Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have slid down in the T20 rankings, to 7th and 9th respectively. He has always been a strong force in this format, but his recent form hasn’t matched his standards.
Australian batsman Travis Head continues to lead from the top spot, and for the West Indies, Akeal Hosein occupies the top bowlers’ ranking. No Pakistani bowler makes it to the Top 10 in T20. This is one area that Pakistan needs improvement on for the format.
What these rankings signify for Pakistan Cricket:
Rankings mirror the performances of individuals and teams at the world level.The emergence of Saud Shakeel brings hope to Pakistan cricket, but new talent needs to be seen to tackle the global challenge. The slippage of stars like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan reveals where improvements are required.
The bowling department, which had been the strength in the past, needs to be revived, especially in T20s where no bowler finds a place in the Top 10.These areas need to be worked upon for the national team to be competitive in all formats of the game.
Future Prospects and Suggestions
- Consistency in Performances: Star players such as Babar Azam need to regain their form across formats, especially Tests, to have an impact at the international level.
- Focus on Emerging Talent: With more encouragement towards player like Saud Shakeel, going forward there may be an altogether more potent unit.
- Bowling Reforms: Pakistan needs to groom and develop bowling talent to the level of being able to perform at international competitions, particularly T20.
- Strategic Planning: The anomalies that are shown in rankings can be corrected by proper management of the workloads of players and training camps.
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