Saadia Iqbal Becomes First Pakistani Woman to Top ICC T20 Rankings

Saadia Iqbal

Pakistan’s Saadia Iqbal has made history by becoming the first Pakistani woman to temporarily hold the top position in the ICC T20 player rankings.

The talented left-arm spinner achieved this significant milestone by surpassing England’s Sophie Ecclestone, who has been a dominant force in the rankings since February 2020.

Saadia’s rise to the top came after an exceptional performance in the opening match of the Women’s T20 World Cup against Sri Lanka, where she took three crucial wickets for just 17 runs, catapulting her to the number one spot in the rankings.

Despite her brief reign at the top, Saadia Iqbal’s accomplishment is a testament to her skill and consistency in T20 cricket. However, by the end of the week, Sophie Ecclestone regained her position as the top-ranked bowler, leaving Saadia in second place.

The two bowlers are separated by a narrow margin of just eight rating points, with Ecclestone holding 762 points and Iqbal close behind with 754. As the T20 World Cup continues, there remains a strong possibility that Saadia could reclaim the top spot, depending on her performances in the ongoing tournament.

This year has been outstanding for Saadia Iqbal. With 28 wickets in just 17 matches, she has established herself as one of the most formidable bowlers in the T20 format.

Her consistency and ability to take wickets in crucial moments have earned her widespread recognition and respect. Saadia’s achievement also highlights the growth of women’s cricket in Pakistan, inspiring future generations of female cricketers to aim for the highest accolades.

Notably, Saadia Iqbal joins an elite group of Pakistani women who have reached the top of the ICC rankings. Former Pakistan captain Sana Mir is the only other Pakistani woman to have held the top position in the ICC player rankings, having achieved this honor in the ODI format during 2018-19.

Saadia’s rise in the T20 rankings is a proud moment for Pakistan, as it reflects the increasing talent and competitiveness of the country’s women cricketers on the global stage.

In addition to Saadia’s personal milestone, the Pakistan women’s cricket team delivered an impressive performance in their opening match of the Women’s T20 World Cup against Sri Lanka.

After winning the toss, Pakistan opted to bat first but faced early setbacks, losing wickets at regular intervals. The pressure mounted as they struggled to reach a competitive score, eventually stumbling to 84-8.

However, captain Fatima Sana played a crucial role, contributing a quickfire 30 runs to help her team post a total of 117 runs on the board.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers, particularly Sugandika Kumari and Chamari Athapaththu, posed significant challenges, with both claiming three wickets each. Despite these difficulties, Pakistan’s bowlers responded admirably in defending their total.

Left-arm spinner Saadia Iqbal led the attack with three key wickets, while Nashra Sandhu, Omaima Sohail, and Fatima Sana chipped in with two wickets apiece.

Their disciplined bowling efforts prevented Sri Lanka from building solid partnerships, ultimately restricting them to 86 all out, securing a 31-run victory for Pakistan.

The match showcased Pakistan’s depth and resilience, as they overcame early losses and an injury to their opening bowler, Diana Baig.

Fatima Sana’s leadership proved instrumental in guiding her team to victory, and she emphasized the importance of taking key wickets, particularly that of Sri Lanka’s captain, Athapaththu. The win not only marked a positive start for Pakistan in the tournament but also set the tone for their campaign, with hopes high for continued success.