ICC rewards Bangladesh players after Pakistan Test win [Source: AFP]
In a significant development, the ICC released the updated player rankings following the conclusion of the first Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh. Led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, the Tigers swatted aside the visitors by 104 runs, taking an unassailable lead in the two-match series.
Bangladesh's clinical triumph resulted in not only their progress in the WTC points table but also improved the rankings of some of their key players, including captain Najmul Hossain Shanto.
Shanto achieves new career-high rating in ICC Test rankings
Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto enjoyed stellar success in the first Test against Pakistan. The southpaw amassed 188 runs, including a valiant century in the second innings.
His successive fifty-plus scores was pivotal in helping the hosts register an emphatic victory over their Pakistani counterparts. The southpaw even received the player of the match award for his stunning innings in the Mirpur Test.
Shanto's brilliant outing in the first Bangladesh Vs Pakistan Test helped him achieve new career-high rating of 649 points and move 16 places up to joint 23 alongside Babar Azam in the Test batters' rankings.
Nahid Rana gains big in Test bowlers rankings
Ace Bangladesh speedster Nahid Rana has been a persistent throne for the Pakistani contingent. The tourists found it tough to get going against Nahid in the white-ball series earlier this year, and the trend continued in the first Test in Mirpur.
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Nahid Rana has been remarkable against Pakistan, giving the batters a run for their money. The visitors struggled against his raw pace, as the right-arm pacer bagged six wickets, including a match-winning five-wicket haul, in the Mirpur Test.
The ICC rewarded Nahid for his sensational performance, with the fast bowler progressing five spots up to number 64 in the Test bowlers' rankings.
Other notable movements in ICC Test rankings
Among others, Mominul Haque emerged as one of the biggest earners in the updated ICC rankings. The southpaw scored 147 runs, including two consecutive fifties, thereby playing a significant role in his side's emphatic win over Pakistan in Mirpur.
Mominul's consistency didn't go unnoticed by the ICC, as the batter jumped 12 spots up to 35th on the batters' list.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh's veteran batter Mushfiqur Rahim also made a notable progress in the batters' rankings. The stylish right-hander amassed a gritty 179-ball 71 in the first innings of the Mirpur Test.
His valiant knock helped the Tigers post a daunting 413-run total on a seaming track. Mushfiqur's recent performance resulted in his progress in the ICC rankings, as he moved two places up to the 26th spot.
Talking about the bowlers, Taijul Islam, who scalped four wickets in the first Test against Pakistan, gained three spots to the 13th position.
Meanwhile, experienced seamer Taskin Ahmed finished the week as the 48th-ranked Test bowler following a disciplined bowling performance (4 wickets at a strike rate of 42) in the match.
Among the Pakistan players, Saud Shakeel and Shan Masood served a demotion of six places each, moving to the 15th and 46th positions, respectively. Mohammad Abbas emerged as the rare positive for the visiting team, finishing at 28th following his five-wicket haul in the Mirpur Test.
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