Dubai: New Zealand and Zimbabwe players have made impressive gains in the latest MRF Tyres ICC T20I Player Rankings, which were released on Saturday morning.
New Zealand came back from behind against Pakistan to win the series 2-1, while Zimbabwe recovered from 0-2 down against Bangladesh to draw the series at two-all.
These series results are clearly reflected in the latest MRF Tyres ICC T20I Player Rankings, which will surely serve as a confidence-booster to the two sides which have no more T20I cricket scheduled before the ICC World Twenty20 India 2016 starts on 8 March.
New Zealand captain Kane Williams has moved up five places to a career-best sixth after he top-scored with 175 runs in the series, while left-am fast bowler Mitchell McClenaghan has broken into the top 10 in eighth position after rising three places.
However, the biggest Kiwi mover is fast bowler Adam Milne. The right-arm fast bowler was the leading wicket-taker in the series with eight wickets, for which he has been rewarded with a jump of 26 places that has put him just outside the top 10 in 13th spot.
For Pakistan, the only positive news is the movement of middle-order batsman Umar Akmal (18th after rising three places) and captain Shahid Afridi, who has returned to the top three in third position in the bowlers’ chart after gaining one place.
Zimbabwe’s charge in the player rankings is led by Hamilton Masakadza and Graeme Cremer.
Hamilton aggregated 222 runs in four matches, including a series-leveling 93 not out in the final match of the series, which has helped him vault 11 places to eighth in the batting table. Malcolm Waller, who scored 128 runs in the series, has rocketed 39 places to join Hashim Amla of South Africa in 39th position.
Cremer’s six wickets in the series has meant he has stormed up nine places to a career-high fifth position. The wrist-spinner has gained 61 points and is now just two points behind the third-ranked Pakistan captain.
Tendai Chisoro took four wickets with his fast bowling, which has given him a lift of 84 places that has put him just inside the top 50 in 46th position.
For Bangladesh, the good news is that Mustafizur Rahman has continued to make upward movement. The fast bowler has climbed 78 places and is now in 37th spot after taking four wickets in the series. Al-Amin Hossain has jumped 15 places to 35th, while captain Mashrafe Mortaza is 33rd after rising two places.
Sabbir Hussain was his side’s leading run-getter with 140 runs for which he has earned 59 places, which has put him in a career-best 79th position.
