Shaheen Shah Afridi jumps past Jasprit Bumrah in ICC Test Bowler’s rankings

Pakistan’s ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi jumped up a grade to number three in the latest ICC Test rankings for bowlers. He swapped spots with Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah, who fell to number four on the list.

Afridi was one of the architects of his country’s dramatic win over Sri Lanka in the Galle Test. The left-arm quick picked up four wickets in the first Sri Lankan innings, thus reducing them to 222 on Day 1.

However, the cricketer succumbed to a knee injury in the second innings, thus prompting him to be benched from the series-deciding second Test match at the same venue.

Australian captain and speed demon Pat Cummins continues his stay at the top of the rankings. Indian enigma machine Ravichandran Ashwin remains the highest-ranked spinner on the list at number two.

Apart from Bumrah and Afridi swapping their positions, the rest of the top 10 rankings for bowlers remains unmoved.

A look at updated ICC Test rankings

Shaheen Afridi and Pakistan’s Test future

While the 22-year-old missed out on the starting XI of the second Test against Sri Lanka, his country is slated to play five home Tests later this year.

In November, Pakistan will be hosting England for a three-match Test series. The following month, they will be playing two Tests against New Zealand. Both series will form a part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle.

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