Pakistan maintains top spot in ICC rankings, Sri Lanka reaps dividends

• Sri Lanka jumps up one place to seventh spot in latest ICC Team Rankings for T20Is.
• Babar Azam remains the number one T20I batsman.

Despite suffering a humiliating 3-0 whitewash at the hands of Sri Lanka, Pakistan managed to maintain their grip as the number one T20I side in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings.

The Men in Green were placed first with a rating of 274 in the T20I rankings, whereas, the Lankans reaped dividends after they climbed a place to now be seated at number seventh spot overtaking Afghanistan with a rating of 241.

Pakistan’s top order batsman Babar Azam remains as the leading T20I batsman. Meanwhile in the bowling department Pakistan’s bowling all-rounder Imad Wasim was placed second in the T20I bowlers’ rankings, whereas, leggie Shadab Khan ranked fourth in the latest rankings.

The series whitewash against Sri Lanka came as a major blow to the Pakistan side, which dominates the game shorter format.

Earlier, Sarfaraz Ahmed admitted that he is responsible for the team failure.“When the team isn't performing then the captain is responsible,” said the captain during the post match conference.

“We need to improve in all facets. If we keep dropping catches like this in the middle overs, we won't be able to beat any team,” he added.

Despite losing the One Day International (ODI) series 2-0, Sri Lanka ended their historic tour of Pakistan on a high, as the visitors that were boosting no star player, after ten of their regular squad members refused to tour Pakistan managed to achieve their first ever 3-0 clean sweep victory in T20I series over the hosts.