Pakistan star regains top ranking ahead of T20 World Cup

Pakistan opener Saim Ayub has been rewarded for his excellent recent form by regaining top spot on the ICC Men's T20I All-Rounder Rankings.

Ayub moves back to the top on the back of some excellent showings for Pakistan during their 3-0 series whitewash over Australia on home soil, with the 23-year-old replacing Zimbabwe veteran Sikandar Raza in the top spot.

It bodes well for Ayub and Pakistan just days out from the start of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup as the Asian side look to claim their second title in the 20-over showcase event and their first since they tasted success in the second edition of the tournament back in 2009.

Ayub scored 119 runs and collected three wickets across the series against Australia and he wasn't the only player from Pakistan to put together some good performances and be rewarded on the rankings this week prior to the start of the T20 World Cup on February 7.

Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed gains two places to move to second on the list for T20I bowlers, with the right-armer now just 28 rating points behind No.1 ranked Varun Chakravarthy of India following six wickets across three matches against the Aussies.

Fellow Pakistan spinner Mohammad Nawaz also makes gains on the updated rankings for T20I bowlers, with the lefty improving eight spots to seventh overall following a five-wicket haul in the final game of the series against Australia.

Nawaz also moves up one place to fourth overall on the list for T20I all-rounders, with Pakistan teammates Ayub (up eight rungs to equal 27th) and skipper Salman Ali Agha (up 12 spots to 29th) the big eye-catchers on the latest rankings for T20I batters.

There is some movement inside the top 10 for T20I batters as Abhishek Sharma holds on to a commanding lead at the head of proceedings, with England's Jos Buttler (third), Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka (fifth), India's Suryakumar Yadav (sixth) and New Zealand's Tim Seifert (ninth) all gaining one place.

A total of seven different sides are represented inside the top 11 on the batter rankings, with the T20 World Cup sure to provide ample opportunies for further movement.

Australia all-rounder Cameron Green (up 16 places to 14th) and South Africa dasher Quinton de Kock (up 15 spots to equal 22nd) also make ground, while India's Ishan Kishan (up 32 rungs to 32nd) and Proteas left-hander Ryan Rickelton (up 42 slots to 40th) make big gains on the same list for T20I batters.

Experienced duo Adil Rashid (up two places to fourth) and Mitchell Santner (up eight spots to equal 23rd) are other players to make gains on the list for T20I bowlers and the pair will be pivotal to the fortunes of their sides at the T20 World Cup.