Pakistan’s left-arm quick, Shaheen Afridi, has emerged as their highest-rated T20I bowler, after the latest update to the ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings.

Shaheen has climbed two spots to secure the 17th position among T20I bowlers globally, following his performances in the first three T20Is against New Zealand.

Shaheen’s impressive display in the series has been instrumental in his ascent in the rankings. He currently leads the wicket-tally for the series after the first three matches.

In the opening game, which was marred by rain, Shaheen managed to grab the sole wicket. However, it was his remarkable performance in the second match, where he claimed figures of 3/13, that significantly contributed to Pakistan’s commanding victory over the Kiwis by seven wickets. This outstanding performance not only earned him accolades but also propelled him past his teammate and fellow quick, Haris Rauf, who now sits at 22nd place in the rankings.

Despite Shaheen’s rise, England’s Adil Rashid maintains his position as the top-ranked player in the T20I bowlers’ rankings. Meanwhile, Shadab Khan retains the 24th spot, while Naseem Shah has experienced a setback, slipping down nine places to the 52nd spot in the rankings.

In the batting department, Pakistan’s Babar Azam has witnessed a decline, currently occupying the fifth position with 755 rating points. This drop follows his less-than-stellar performances in the second and third T20Is of the series, where he scored 14 and 37 runs, respectively. On the other hand, Mohammad Rizwan holds steady at the third position with 800 rating points, thanks to his unbeaten knock of 45* in the second T20I against New Zealand.

At the top of the T20I rankings for batters sits India’s Suryakumar Yadav, maintaining his position as the premier batsman in the format.