Sadia Iqbal Takes the Lead in ICC Women’s T20I Bowler Rankings
Sadia Iqbal Ascends to the Top of T20I Rankings
Lahore [Pakistan], May 27: The top position in the ICC Women’s T20I Bowler Rankings has shifted, with Pakistan's Sadia Iqbal now leading the pack. This achievement marks a significant milestone in her career, as she reclaimed her spot at the top on Tuesday, according to the ICC's official website.
Last year, Iqbal was a standout performer during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, and her rise to the top comes after England's Sophie Ecclestone missed her team's recent T20I series against the West Indies.
Ecclestone's absence led to a reshuffling in the rankings, allowing Iqbal to regain the position she briefly held during the previous T20 World Cup.
While Ecclestone has dropped to fourth place, her teammate Lauren Bell has made notable progress, climbing 13 spots to sixth overall after taking seven wickets in the series against the West Indies.
Other England players, Linsey Smith and Issy Wong, also saw improvements, moving up 37 spots to 41st and 32 places to equal 62nd, respectively, thanks to their performances against the West Indies.
In the T20I batting rankings, Hayley Matthews of the West Indies has emerged as a significant contender, rising two spots to second overall after her impressive Player of the Series performance against England, where she scored 177 runs at an average of 88.50.
Matthews is now putting pressure on Australia's Beth Mooney, who maintains a slim lead at the top of the batting rankings, while Tahlia McGrath has dropped to third due to Matthews' rise.
Additionally, England's Nat Sciver-Brunt, Heather Knight, and Sophia Dunkley have all made notable gains in the batting rankings following solid performances against the West Indies, with Sciver-Brunt moving up to ninth, Knight to 17th, and Dunkley to equal 29th.
Matthews has also strengthened her position at the top of the T20I all-rounder rankings, contributing three wickets in the series against England alongside her impressive run tally.