DHAKA – Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and young pace sensation Nahid Rana have made significant gains in the latest ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings following their instrumental roles in Bangladesh’s historic home Test victory against Pakistan.
The triumph, fueled by Shanto’s commanding batting and Rana’s fiery spell, marks a milestone in Bangladesh’s cricketing history.
Shanto Leads from the Front
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was the standout performer in Mirpur, scoring a magnificent century in the first innings followed by a vital 87 in the second. His aggregate of 188 runs not only earned him the Player of the Match award but also propelled him 16 places up in the batting rankings. With 649 rating points, Shanto is now the highest-ranked Bangladeshi batter, currently occupying the 24th position globally.
Mixed Fortunes for Batters
Other key contributors also saw their stocks rise:
Muminul Haque: After scoring half-centuries in both innings, Muminul jumped 12 spots to reach the 35th position.
Mushfiqur Rahim: The veteran campaigner moved up two places to sit at 26th.
However, it wasn’t good news for everyone in the top order. Mahmudul Hasan Joy dropped six places, Shadman Islam fell four spots, and all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz slipped by one.
Rana’s Record-Breaking Spell
On the bowling front, Nahid Rana grabbed headlines by becoming the first Bangladeshi pacer to claim a five-wicket haul in the fourth innings of a Test match. This “fifer” helped him climb five spots to 64th in the bowling rankings. Meanwhile, left-arm spinner Taijul Islam continued his steady ascent, moving up three places to world number 13.
