Younis, Misbah climb in Test rankings

Published December 6, 2007

DUBAI, Dec 5: After his match-saving century against India in the second Test at Kolkata on Monday, Pakistan’s Younis Khan has plenty of cause for celebration.

Not only has he managed to keep the three-Test series alive by saving the game in Kolkata but the 57-Test veteran has also moved up one place to seventh in the ICC player rankings for Test batsmen.

Younis, 30, was rock-solid in the second innings at Kolkata when his side were relying on him to survive. At 78-4 things looked decidedly shaky for Pakistan but Younis was then joined by Mohammad Yousuf, himself occupying the fourth position in the rankings, and the duo saw off the Indian bowling.

Younis ended at 107 not out and, coupled with a useful knock of 43 in the first innings, it was enough to lift him above Australian opener Matthew Hayden on the log.

It was also a wonderful match for some of Younis’s Pakistan team-mates.

Centurion Misbah-ul-Haq moves up 22 places, to the 44th position with his 161 not out in the first innings while wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal progresses five places to the 29th spot after a fine 119.

India, too, have their share of upward mobility in the latest rankings. Wasim Jaffer has reached his career-best rating following a stellar match for the man from Mumbai.

A double century in the first innings was backed up by a half-century in the second with the result that the 29-year-old moves up no fewer than 17 places to 23rd in the latest rankings.

There was also progress for Saurav Ganguly (up four places to 24th), VVS Laxman (up one place to 19th) and Sachin Tendulkar (up one place to 17th).

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting still leads the Test batsmen rankings. He is now under serious pressure from South Africa’s Jacques Kallis but even more so from the third-placed Kumar Sangakkara who is in sublime form for Sri Lanka in recent games.

Anil Kumble drops one place to joint-sixth position while team-mate Zaheer Khan slips a place to 12th spot and Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria is down two places to 16th.

Muttiah Muralitharan is still out in front of the rankings and may even stretch his lead when the rankings are updated soon.

Meanwhile, there is no change at the top of the rankings for Test all-rounders.—Agencies

Opinion

Editorial

China security ties
Updated 14 Nov, 2024

China security ties

If China's security concerns aren't addressed satisfactorily, it may affect bilateral ties. CT cooperation should be pursued instead of having foreign forces here.
Steep price
14 Nov, 2024

Steep price

THE Hindu Kush-Himalayan region is in big trouble. A new study unveiled at the ongoing COP29 reveals that if high...
A high-cost plan
14 Nov, 2024

A high-cost plan

THE government has approved an expensive plan for FBR in the hope of tackling its deep-seated inefficiencies. The...
United stance
Updated 13 Nov, 2024

United stance

It would've been better if the OIC-Arab League summit had announced practical measures to punish Israel.
Unscheduled visit
13 Nov, 2024

Unscheduled visit

Unusual IMF visit shows the lender will closely watch implementation of programme goals to prevent it from derailing.
Bara’s businesswomen
13 Nov, 2024

Bara’s businesswomen

Bara’s brave women have proven that with the right support, societal barriers can be overcome.