Harry Brook reaches career-best T20I No. 4; Abrar Ahmed becomes top bowler
Synopsis
Harry Brook is now top-four in T20I batting while already holding the Test batting summit — a multi-format dominance few England batters have achieved. Meanwhile, Abrar Ahmed's rise to T20I bowling number one ends Rashid Khan's six-month reign and makes him only the fifth Pakistani to reach that peak.
Key Takeaways
Harry Brook climbed five places to a career-best fourth in ICC T20I Batting Rankings after scoring 170 runs in England's 3-0 home series sweep over Sri Lanka.
Abrar Ahmed became the number one T20I bowler in the world for the first time, surpassing Rashid Khan (736 points) whose six-month reign ended after a poor match vs India in New Delhi .
Abrar is only the fifth Pakistan bowler to top the T20I bowling charts, after Umar Gul , Saeed Ajmal , Imad Wasim , and Shahid Afridi .
Jos Buttler rose to fifth in T20I batting; Jamie Overton surged 47 places to a career-best sixth in T20I bowling.
Brook also moved up to 12th in ODI batting , putting him on the verge of top-10 status across all three formats alongside his Test batting No.
England captain Harry Brook has climbed to a career-best fourth place in the ICC Men's T20I Batting Rankings after a dominant home series against Sri Lanka, while Pakistan leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed has broken through to the number one position in the T20I bowling charts, according to the latest rankings update released on Wednesday, 23 September 2026.
Brook's Stellar Series Run
Brook, 27, accumulated 170 runs in England's 3-0 series sweep over Sri Lanka, headlined by an unbeaten 114 in Southampton that earned him the Player of the Series award. The five-place rise in T20I batting — a rankings list currently led by India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan — adds another milestone to Brook's remarkable multi-format ascent. He already holds the top spot in Test batting rankings and has simultaneously moved up three places to 12th in ODI batting, placing him on the cusp of a top-10 finish across all three international formats.
Abrar Ahmed Makes History for Pakistan
Abrar Ahmed reached the summit of the T20I bowling rankings for the first time in his career, overtaking Afghanistan's Rashid Khan, who dropped one rating point to fall behind Abrar's tally of 736 points. Rashid's slip came after an ordinary outing in Afghanistan's last match against India in New Delhi, ending his six-month stint at the top. Abrar becomes only the fifth Pakistan bowler to reach number one in T20I bowling, joining Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Imad Wasim, and Shahid Afridi in that exclusive company.
Other Notable T20I Batting Movements
Brook's England teammate Jos Buttler rose two places to fifth position after scoring 172 runs in the Sri Lanka series, tightening England's grip near the top of the rankings. India captain Shreyas Iyer gained seven slots to reach joint-22nd, while England's Tom Banton made a dramatic jump of 30 places to 60th.
Key Bowling and All-Rounder Movers
England's Jamie Overton made the most eye-catching bowling leap, surging 47 places to a career-best sixth position after claiming five wickets against Sri Lanka. Fellow England spinner Liam Dawson climbed 12 places to 11th. India spinners Axar Patel (up 12 places to 15th) and Ravi Bishnoi (up five places to 35th) also advanced. Afghanistan seam-bowling all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai moved up three spots to 49th, while England's Will Jacks advanced to 58th in bowling and claimed third place in the all-rounders rankings.
ODI Rankings: Raza, Ellis and Fernando Advance
In the ICC Men's ODI Player Rankings, Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza moved up five places to 24th after scores of 45 and an unbeaten 81 in the final two matches against Australia. Australia's Josh Inglis rose 11 places to 30th, while Zimbabwe's Craig Ervine advanced seven places to 65th and Will Jacks gained two places to 77th. Among ODI bowlers, Australia pacer Nathan Ellis climbed three places to a career-best 17th after taking nine wickets in the Zimbabwe series. Sri Lanka fast bowler Asitha Fernando advanced from 39th to 30th following a three-wicket haul against England in Chester-le-Street. With Brook now threatening top-10 status in ODIs and Abrar entrenched at number one in T20Is, the next cycle of international fixtures will be closely watched to see whether these rankings shifts hold.
Point of View
However, is the more structurally significant story: Pakistan has not held the top T20I bowling spot in years, and Abrar's 736-point tally arriving off the back of Rashid Khan's stumble against India rather than a dominant personal campaign means his tenure at the top may be fragile. The real test for both men comes in high-pressure bilateral series over the next quarter.
NationPress
23 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What ranking has Harry Brook achieved in T20I batting?
Harry Brook has reached a career-best fourth position in the ICC Men's T20I Batting Rankings after scoring 170 runs in England's 3-0 series sweep over Sri Lanka, including an unbeaten 114 in Southampton. He already holds the number one spot in Test batting and is now 12th in ODI batting.
How did Abrar Ahmed become the top-ranked T20I bowler?
Abrar Ahmed overtook Afghanistan's Rashid Khan to reach number one in T20I bowling with a tally of 736 points. Rashid dropped one rating point following an ordinary outing in Afghanistan's match against India in New Delhi, ending his six-month reign at the summit.
Who are the five Pakistan bowlers to have topped the T20I bowling rankings?
Abrar Ahmed is the fifth Pakistan bowler to reach number one in T20I bowling, after Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Imad Wasim, and Shahid Afridi. This makes him part of an elite group in Pakistan cricket history.
Which other players made notable moves in the latest ICC T20I rankings?
Jos Buttler rose two places to fifth in T20I batting after scoring 172 runs in the Sri Lanka series, while Jamie Overton leaped 47 places to a career-best sixth in T20I bowling after taking five wickets. India's Shreyas Iyer gained seven slots to joint-22nd, and Axar Patel moved up 12 places to 15th among bowlers.
What were the key changes in the ICC ODI rankings?
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza moved up five places to 24th in ODI batting following scores of 45 and an unbeaten 81 against Australia. Australia pacer Nathan Ellis climbed to a career-best 17th in ODI bowling after taking nine wickets in the Zimbabwe series, while Sri Lanka's Asitha Fernando advanced from 39th to 30th.
