Pakistan have hit a purple patch in T20 cricket and it is reflected in the rankings table.
On Wednesday, Babar Azam's team's pulled off one of the greatest T20 wins in modern times to break Afghanistan's hearts in Sharjah and storm into the final of the Asia Cup tournament.
The tension spilled onto the stands as pacer Naseem Shah hit successive sixes in the last over to steal an improbable one-wicket win while chasing a modest 130. With that, Pakistan knocked India and Afghanistan out of the race for a spot in the final and booked a title clash with Sri Lanka in Dubai on Sunday.
Pakistan's brilliant run in the UAE coincided with the rise of wicketkeeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan to the top of the ICC rankings for T20 batsmen.
With scores of 43, 78*, 71, and 20, Rizwan overtook his captain Babar as the top-ranked batsman in the 20-over format.
"Our performance and effort is for everyone to see," Rizwan had said earlier in the Asia Cup.
"Boys are putting in their 100 per cent and gelling well together and catering to the demand of our nation. The result is in the hands of God."
The T20 rankings for batsmen has been more or less dominated by Pakistan batsmen, with England's Dawid Malan the other batsman consistently in the mix.
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Pakistan's Naseem Shah hits a six to win the game against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup 2022 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on September 7, 2022. All images Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Pakistan players celebrate after Naseem Shah scored the winning runs. -
Pakistan's Naseem Shah celebrates with teammates after hitting the winning runs against Afghanistan. -
Pakistan's Asif Ali has his wicket taken by by Afghanistan's Fareed Ahmad. -
Afghanistan's Fareed Ahmad celebrates after taking the wicket of Pakistan's Haris Rauf. -
Pakistan's Asif Ali and Afghanistan's Fareed Ahmad square up. -
Afghanistan bowler Fareed Ahmad after taking the wicket of Pakistan's Iftikhar Ahmed. -
Shadab Khan bats on his way to 36 for Pakistan. -
Afghanistan bowler Rashid Khan celebrates with teammate after taking the wicket of Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan for 20. -
Pakistan's Shadab Khan hits a six. -
Pakistan batter Iftikhar Ahmed on his way to 30. -
Afghanistan's Najibullah Zadran celebrates after getting out Pakistan batter Fakhar Zaman for five. -
Pakistan opener Mohammad Rizwan. -
Afghanistan's Fazalhaq Farooqi celebrates taking the wicket of Pakistan captain Babar Azam for a duck. -
Afghanistan's Rashid Khan scored an unbeaten 18. -
Pakistan fielder Fakhar Zaman catches out Afghanistan's Karim Janat for 15. -
Afghanistan batter Mohammad Nabi is bowled by Pakistan's Naseem Shah for a duck. -
Pakistan bowler Naseem Shah celebrates taking the wicket of Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi. -
Karim Janat scored 15 for Afghanistan. -
Pakistan bowler Mohammad Hasnain celebrates taking the wicket of Afghanistan opener Hazratullah Zazai for 21.
