Pakistan’s left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal has once again made the country proud by maintaining her top position in the latest ICC Women’s T20I Bowler Rankings, as announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday.
Sadia currently holds the No.1 rank among T20I bowlers with a rating of 746 points. The competition remains extremely tight at the top, with only 44 rating points separating the top 10 bowlers. Afy Fletcher of the West Indies, who is placed 10th, has 702 points, reflecting the razor-thin margins that define the elite tier of women’s cricket.
Among the other notable bowlers in the top ten, England’s right-arm pacer Lauren Bell has made significant strides. After her impressive performance in Nottingham—where she claimed three wickets—Bell rose two places to reach a career-best fourth position in the T20I bowling rankings. Her consistent performances are gaining her increasing recognition on the global stage.
The rankings also reveal an interesting tie: Pakistan’s Nashra Sandhu, ranked 8th, and Australia’s Georgia Wareham, ranked 9th, both share a rating of 704. This tie showcases how competitive the current bowling landscape in women’s T20I cricket has become.
While Pakistan continues to shine in the bowling department, the batting rankings are currently dominated by players from India, Australia, and South Africa. India’s star batter Smriti Mandhana is making headlines for her exceptional form. Known primarily as the No.1 ranked ODI batter, Mandhana has now achieved a career-high rating of 771 points in the T20I batter rankings, placing her at No.3 on the list.
Mandhana’s recent century against England in Nottingham—a brilliant knock of 112 runs—was instrumental in her rise. She is now just 23 points behind the current top-ranked T20I batter, Beth Mooney of Australia. The left-hander’s elegant stroke play and consistency make her a serious contender for the No.1 T20I spot in the near future.
Joining her in the upward movement is fellow Indian opener Shafali Verma, who gained one place to move to 13th following her 20-run knock in the same match against England. Additionally, Harleen Deol re-entered the T20I batter rankings at joint 86th position, thanks to her impactful 43-run innings, proving India’s batting depth in the T20I format.
The recently concluded T20I series between South Africa and the West Indies has also impacted the rankings. Miane Smit, a young South African talent, made a major leap by jumping from well outside the top 100 to 76th place in the batter rankings after her impressive half-century in the final match of the series. Her rapid rise suggests a promising future ahead.
Another South African, Sune Luus, made notable progress as well. The experienced all-rounder climbed nine places to 31st in the T20I all-rounder rankings due to her contributions with both bat and ball during the match held at Cave Hill. Luus’s all-round abilities continue to be an asset for South Africa as they aim to strengthen their presence in international women’s cricket.
However, amidst all the movement and achievements from other countries, Pakistan’s batting unit appears to be struggling in the T20I format. According to the latest rankings update, no Pakistani batter is featured among the top 35 T20I batters, raising concerns about the national side’s batting performance and consistency on the global stage.
This contrast is particularly evident when compared to the bowling success of Sadia Iqbal and Nashra Sandhu. The absence of Pakistani batters in the top tier underscores the need for renewed focus on player development, training, and grooming young talent to restore Pakistan’s competitiveness in all departments of the game.
The ICC’s latest update paints a mixed picture for Pakistan: while the bowling department continues to perform with excellence, led by Sadia Iqbal’s brilliance, the batting side has room for significant improvement. Meanwhile, players like Smriti Mandhana and Lauren Bell continue to rise and set new benchmarks in their respective roles, keeping the international women’s T20I scene both vibrant and competitive.
