Sadia Iqbal became the first Pakistani player to top the ICC Women’s T20I player rankings table as she overtook Sophie Ecclestone to become the world’s number one bowler. But it didn’t last long, as Ecclestone took it back the weekend the update was released.
Ecclestone has been the highest-ranked women’s T20I bowler since February 2020 and continues to do so. But for a few days last week, the throne belonged to Iqbal. Iqbal equaled Ecclestone for the first time after taking 3 for 17 against Sri Lanka in Pakistan’s Women’s T20 World Cup opener. Ecclestone took 0 for 21 in his first match of the World Cup and was behind Iqbal as a result. However, Iqbal took 1 for 23 against India while Ecclestone regained the top spot with a 15-2 win over South Africa.
However, the gap between the two is only 8 points (762, 754), so it is quite possible that the rankings will change again before the World Cup ends.
So, left-arm spinner Iqbal is having his best year in T20Is. Among all players in the World Cup, she has the most wickets in 2024 (28 wickets in 17 matches). Former Pakistan captain Sana Mir is the only Pakistani female cricketer to top the ICC players’ table. She was ranked No. 1 ODI bowler in 2018-19.
Putting aside the battle for the top T20I bowlers rankings, many other players have made notable moves during the World Cup.
Among batsmen, Suzie Bates hit 27 against India and rose two places to 7th, and Harmanpreet Kaur jumped 4 places after scoring 15 against New Zealand and 29 against Pakistan (retired due to injury). It rose to 12th place. One of the best performers of the World Cup so far, Danni Wyatt-Hodge hit 41 and 43 against Bangladesh and South Africa respectively, helping England win both matches. This moved her up from 20th to tied 18th, where she joined teammate Nat Sciver-Brunt after scoring 48 against South Africa. She was 19th last week.
Among the bowlers, Megan Schutt moved up nine places to 10th in the top 10 after taking 3 for 12 against Sri Lanka. In the top five, Sarah Glenn moves up one place to third behind Ecclestone and Iqbal after taking a wicket in each of England’s two matches so far. Below him, Ash Gardner moved up three places to sixth, and Rabeya Khan rose one place to ninth.
After South Africa’s opening win against the West Indies with 4 for 29, Nonkululeko Mlaba rose nine places to 13th with 1 for 22 against England.
