🏏 Farhan, Haris, and Pakistan Spinners Rise in ICC T20I Rankings – Complete Analysis
🌍 Asia Cup 2025 Sparks Ranking Shifts
The start of the Asia Cup 2025 has brought not only thrilling cricket action but also significant movements in the latest ICC T20I rankings. Pakistan cricket news once again dominates the headlines, as young players like Sahibzada Farhan and Mohammad Haris register remarkable climbs in the ICC T20I batting rankings.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s spin duo Sifiyan Muqeem and Abrar Ahmed continue to shine, making notable gains in the T20I bowlers rankings, proving that Pakistan cricket is gradually shifting its identity from a pace-heavy unit to a balanced side with a strong spin department.
But it’s not all good news—senior batters like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and skipper Salman Ali Agha have slipped down the charts, raising concerns about consistency and continuity.
This blog dives deep into:
✅ Pakistan’s ranking shifts – who’s rising and who’s falling
✅ The significance of Farhan & Haris’ breakthrough
✅ Pakistan spinners leading the ICC charts
✅ Global T20I rankings updates – India, England & West Indies impact
✅ What it means for Pakistan ahead of T20 World Cup 2026
✅ Cricketory insights and expert analysis
📈 Sahibzada Farhan – The Breakout Star
One of the biggest positives for Pakistan is the rise of Sahibzada Farhan, who surged 18 places to 55th in the ICC T20I batting rankings.
🔑 Why Farhan’s Rise Matters
- Farhan has been delivering consistent runs in the Asia Cup warm-up games and practice sessions.
- His attacking intent in the powerplay has given Pakistan an alternative to the more cautious approach of Rizwan and Babar.
- Ranked 55th now, he is only a few strong series away from breaking into the top 40.
Farhan’s improvement highlights Pakistan’s growing depth in batting—a department often criticized for over-dependence on two senior pros.
🔥 Mohammad Haris – The X-Factor Wicketkeeper
Another major riser is Mohammad Haris, who climbed 22 places to 89th in the T20I batting rankings.
🧤 Haris’ Value to Pakistan
- Unlike Rizwan, Haris is known for his fearless batting in the powerplay.
- His ability to score quickly against spin makes him a valuable middle-order option.
- With a strike rate consistently above 140 in T20 leagues, Haris is being groomed as Pakistan’s long-term aggressive keeper-batter.
His rise in the rankings is a sign of Pakistan’s shift towards modern T20 cricket, where aggression is valued over stability.
⚠️ Decline of Senior Batters – Babar & Rizwan Slip
While Farhan and Haris are rising, Pakistan’s senior batters are going through a rough patch.
- Babar Azam – slipped 2 places to 26th.
- Mohammad Rizwan – dropped 5 places to 33rd.
- Salman Ali Agha – fell 10 places to 67th.
- Fakhar Zaman – down to 69th.
📉 Reasons Behind the Decline
- Lack of recent T20I matches since 2024 has hurt Babar and Rizwan’s rankings.
- Their strike rates have often been criticized as too slow compared to modern demands.
- Younger talents like Saim Ayub and Hasan Nawaz have also failed to capitalize, slipping further.
This shows that Pakistan must rethink its T20I batting strategy, balancing experience with fearless intent.
🌪️ Spin Power – Sifiyan Muqeem & Abrar Ahmed Climb the Rankings
In the ICC T20I bowlers rankings, Pakistan’s spinners have been the shining stars:
- Sifiyan Muqeem – climbed 4 places to 11th with 656 points.
- Abrar Ahmed – jumped 11 spots to 16th.
🌟 Why This Is Crucial
Pakistan’s identity has long been built around fast bowlers like Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, and Shaheen Afridi. But with modern T20 cricket demanding mystery spinners and control in middle overs, Pakistan’s spin duo is perfectly placed to dominate.
Sifiyan Muqeem, with his variations, has already troubled top-order batters across Asia. Abrar Ahmed, known as the “mystery spinner,” provides wicket-taking breakthroughs when the team needs them most.
⚡ Pace Concerns – Shaheen Afridi & Rauf Slip
While the spinners rise, Pakistan’s pacers are facing tough times:
- Shaheen Afridi – slipped 5 places to 27th.
- Mohammad Nawaz – down to 33rd.
- Haris Rauf – dropped to 37th.
This decline reflects Pakistan’s over-reliance on spin in recent months, as pace has not been as effective on UAE and Asian pitches.
🌍 Global T20I Rankings – Key Movements
The Pakistan players’ ranking shifts come alongside global updates in the ICC charts:
- Abhishek Sharma (India) – retains No.1 T20I batter ranking.
- Phil Salt (England) – moved to 2nd, overtaking Tilak Varma.
- Jos Buttler (England) – climbs to 3rd spot.
- Varun Chakravarthy (India) – now No.1 T20I bowler, displacing Jacob Duffy.
- Akeal Hosein (West Indies) – steady at 3rd among bowlers.
This shows the India-England-West Indies dominance in T20 rankings, but Pakistan’s spinners are now entering the global elite.
⚔️ Pakistan’s Road to T20 World Cup 2026
The ICC T20I rankings shifts have major implications for Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign.
✅ Strengths Going Forward
- Rising spinners (Muqeem & Abrar) provide match-winning options.
- Young batters like Farhan & Haris bring fresh energy.
- Depth in squad ensures Pakistan is not dependent only on Babar & Rizwan.
❌ Weaknesses to Address
- Senior batters’ slow strike rates.
- Pacers losing edge, especially Shaheen Afridi’s ranking dip.
- Inconsistent middle-order performances.
If Pakistan can find the right balance between youth and experience, they could enter the 2026 tournament as dark horses.
📊 Key Points
- Pakistan players ICC T20I rankings 2025
- Sahibzada Farhan T20I rise
- Mohammad Haris ICC batting ranking update
- Babar Azam T20I ranking slip
- Sifiyan Muqeem ICC T20 bowler ranking
- Abrar Ahmed T20I rise
- Shaheen Afridi T20I ranking drop
- India vs Pakistan cricket news 2025
- ICC latest T20 rankings update
- Asia Cup 2025 impact on rankings
🗣️ Cricketory Insights & Analysis
At Cricketory, we believe this rankings shift tells a bigger story about Pakistan cricket:
- The Old Guard vs The New Wave – Babar and Rizwan are still quality players, but the future belongs to players like Farhan, Haris, and Saim Ayub.
- Spin Revolution – Pakistan is finally embracing the importance of spin in T20 cricket, something other teams like India and Afghanistan have mastered.
- Pace Adjustments Needed – Shaheen Afridi remains world-class, but he must adapt his lengths in T20s, while Rauf needs to regain rhythm.
- Mental Edge – Climbing the rankings boosts confidence, and this new generation of Pakistani cricketers seems fearless.
🏆 Conclusion – A Mixed Bag for Pakistan
The latest ICC T20I rankings bring both celebration and caution for Pakistan cricket. On one hand, Farhan and Haris’ rise alongside the brilliance of Muqeem and Abrar signals a bright future. On the other hand, the decline of Babar, Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi is a reminder that experience must quickly rediscover form.
As the Asia Cup 2025 unfolds, these rankings will continue to shift. For Pakistan, the challenge is simple—capitalize on their rising stars while helping their seniors rediscover the form that once made them world-beaters.
The road to T20 World Cup 2026 starts here, and Pakistan is gearing up for the ultimate test.
❓ FAQs
Q1. Who is Sahibzada Farhan and why is he rising in ICC T20I rankings?
A: Farhan surged 18 places to 55th after strong Asia Cup performances, bringing fresh attacking intent at the top of Pakistan’s order.
QQ2. How did Mohammad Haris climb in ICC T20I batting rankings?
A: Haris jumped 22 spots to 89th, thanks to his fearless powerplay batting and ability to accelerate against spinners.
Q3. Why did Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan drop in the rankings?
A: Both slipped due to lack of T20I appearances since 2024 and strike-rate concerns compared to modern T20 requirements.
4. Which Pakistan bowlers rose in ICC T20I rankings 2025?
A: Sifiyan Muqeem (11th) and Abrar Ahmed (16th) climbed significantly, cementing Pakistan’s growing spin strength.
Q5. What does this rankings shift mean for Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 chances?
A: It signals a new era, with young batters and spinners stepping up, but Pakistan must fix pace and senior batting issues to compete globally.