Sadia Iqbal Reclaims No.1 Spot in ICC Women’s T20I Bowling Rankings After South Africa Series
Dubai: Pakistan spinner Sadia Iqbal has returned to the top of the ICC Women's T20I Bowling Rankings following a string of strong performances against South Africa.
The left-arm spinner overtook Australia’s Annabel Sutherland and India’s Deepti Sharma in the latest update of the ICC Women’s Player Rankings. Her rise comes after an impactful three-match T20I series in South Africa, where she finished as the joint leading wicket-taker.
Match-Winning Spell in Benoni
Iqbal picked up five wickets in the series, including an impressive 3 for 18 in the deciding match in Benoni. That spell played a crucial role in Pakistan’s performance and helped her climb two places to reclaim the No.1 position — a ranking she had previously held toward the end of 2024.
Sutherland had moved to the top just last month, but Iqbal’s consistency and ability to deliver in key moments saw her regain the summit.
Fatima Sana Shines as All-Rounder
There was further encouragement for Pakistan as captain Fatima Sana made notable gains across categories. The 22-year-old rose 31 places to equal 28th in the T20I batting rankings. She also climbed five spots to sixth in the T20I all-rounders’ rankings.
Her progress followed a Player of the Match performance in the series finale, where she scored an unbeaten 47 off 30 balls and claimed two wickets. One of her key dismissals was South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt, who nonetheless moved up one place to fourth in the T20I batting rankings.
Indian Bowlers Also Gain
Meanwhile, Indian bowlers were rewarded for their performances in the rain-affected opening match of their T20I series in Australia. Renuka Singh climbed six places to fifth in the bowling rankings. Arundhati Reddy jumped 19 spots to equal 16th, while Shree Charani moved up eight places to 39th.
Rankings Reflect Competitive Landscape
The latest rankings update highlights the increasing competitiveness in women’s T20 cricket. Iqbal’s return to the top underlines Pakistan’s growing impact in the format, while contributions from players across Australia, India, and South Africa reflect the depth of talent in international women’s cricket.
Our Final Thoughts
Sadia Iqbal’s rise back to the No.1 ranking is a reward for consistency and composure under pressure. Her match-winning spell in Benoni demonstrated the value of disciplined spin bowling in T20 cricket. At the same time, Fatima Sana’s all-round performance signals a positive direction for Pakistan women’s cricket. With Indian and Australian players also climbing the charts, the rankings show how competitive and balanced the women’s game has become. As teams prepare for upcoming international fixtures, these movements in the ICC rankings could shape selection strategies and on-field match-ups in the months ahead.