Shakib overtakes Ashwin for top Test allrounders spot after Bangladesh’s Colombo triumph

Shakib Al Hasan has once again topped the ICC rankings for Test allrounders, overtaking India’s Ravichandran Ashwin.

Sports Deskbdnews24.com
Published : 21 March 2017, 10:12 AM
Updated : 21 March 2017, 10:12 AM

A sparkling show with both the bat and the ball in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo gave the star Bangladesh cricketer a 28-point boosted on to 431 points, past Ashwin (408).

Shakib smashed his fifth Test century and picked up six wicket in both innings to inspire the Tigers to a memorable win in their 100th Test which squared the series 1-1 against the Lankan lions.

Two weeks ago, the ace allrounder had moved to the top of the rankings displacing Ashwin after the talismanic Indian cricketer underperformed against Australia.

But Shakib slipped behind Ashwin again following a tame effort in the Galle Test, which Bangladesh lost by 259 runs.

But this time Shakib surges to the top with a brilliant show of his own in Bangladesh’s historic Test which also sealed their first Test win and drawn series against Sri Lanka.

India’s Ravindra Jadeja is third in the position with 387 points.

Shakib and skipper Mushfiqur Rahim achieved career-best spots in Test batsmen rankings.

With a career-high 676 points, Shakib leaped five spots on to 21st while Mushfiqur achieved 644 points to be at 28th. Opener Tamim Iqbal moved nine placed forward to 24th.

Australia skipper Steven Smith moved 80 points clear at top of the batsmen’s rankings with 941 points after scoring 178 an d 21 in the Ranchi Test.

He is followed by India’s Cheteshwar Pujara whose knock of 202 at Ranchi helped him gain four slots to reach a career-best second ranking.

Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman grabbed five wickets both innings combined in Colombo and surged 20 slots to be 47th with career-high points (360).

Like batmen and allrounders rankings, Shakib also leads Bangladesh players among Test bowlers. He has moved forward one step to 17th.

Ashwin and Jadeja previously shared the topspot for bowlers, but after grabbing 9 wickets in Ranchi, the southpaw has moved ahead of his compatriot.