Bangladesh players have seen significant improvements in the latest men’s Test player rankings after their remarkable 104-run win against Pakistan in the opening Test at Mirpur. This victory marked Bangladesh’s first win in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle, with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto leading the charge. Shanto’s exceptional performance, including a century in the first innings and a crucial 87 in the second, propelled him 16 places up in the ICC rankings to a joint 23rd position.
Mushfiqur Rahim, contributing scores of 71 and 22, also climbed two spots to 26th place in the latest rankings following Bangladesh’s triumph. Mominul Haque’s impressive performances with scores of 91 and 56 saw him surge 12 places to secure the 35th position. Pakistan’s debutants Abdullah Fazal and Azan Awais made their mark by entering the rankings at 75th and 82nd positions, respectively. Abdullah’s century in the first innings and Azan’s consistent half-centuries boosted their rankings.
In the bowling department, left-arm spinner Taijul Islam, with two wickets in each innings, moved up three places to claim the 13th spot in the rankings. Fast bowler Nahid Rana’s significant performance of five wickets for 92 runs in the second innings propelled him up five places to the 64th position. Despite Pakistan’s loss, seam bowler Mohammad Abbas re-entered the rankings at 28th position after his impressive five-wicket haul in the first innings.
Bangladesh’s convincing victory in the first Test has elevated them above Pakistan in the ICC World Test Championship standings.
