Before this series, which Afghanistan won 2-0 with the third game washed out, Zazai had played only one international match, a T20I in 2016 against the United Arab Emirates in Dubai. In his first two T20Is since, against Ireland last week, he scored 74 and 82 in quick time.

Zazai’s displays meant he was placed at No.39 in the batsmen’s rankings, where Mohammad Shahzad remained highest-ranked Afghan player – at No.13 with 647 points.

It was the Afghanistan bowlers who made the really big moves. Mujeeb Ur Rahman continued to surge up the bowlers' rankings. He reached a career-high 500 points and jumped 25 places to No.38 in the charts.

Aftab Alam was another big gainer. The 25-year-old jumped 24 places to No.107 among the bowlers with a career-high 303 points, while among all-rounders, he moved up 27 places to No.157.

Rashid Khan remained at the top of the bowlers’ rankings with 793 points.

Meanwhile, Samiullah Shenwari and Shafiqullah’s poor returns with the bat in the series reflected in the rankings. Shewari fell five places to No.55, while Shafiqullah slipped to No.98, a slide of four places.

Among bowlers, Mohammed Nabi fell by two places No.11 after claiming two wickets in as many matches, while Hamza Hotak fell seven places to No.31.

Ireland had a poor series, particularly in the second match when they were bowled out for 79 in a chase of 161.

But they had reason for cheer because of Simi Singh. He jumped 10 places among batters to No.137 – he scored a 17-ball 20 in the first T20I – and had a bigger jump of 17 places to No.124 among bowlers after claiming two wickets. Among the all-rounders, too, Singh moved up 24 places to No.67.

Peter Chase was another big mover. The 24-year-old jumped 27 places to No.120 among bowlers after returning a fine 3/35 in the second T20I.

George Dockrell was another Ireland player to do well, moving up by five places to to No.177 in the batting charts, thanks to his unbeaten 22 in the first T20I, while Gary Wilson, the Ireland captain, moved up three places to No.50.