KARACHI, Sept 9: Pakistan’s spin maestro Saeed Ajmal and middle-order batsman Younis Khan, who put impressive showings in Pakistan’s 221-run victory in the first Test against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club, have gained in the latest ICC player rankings for Tests.

Saeed’s match haul of 11 for 118 has helped him move up a place to third in the latest ICC player rankings for Test bowlers, Younis has been rewarded with a jump of two places to sixth for his unbeaten knock of 200 in the second innings on the player rankings for Test batsmen.

Saeed’s efforts with the ball have helped him gain 36 ratings points to thereby regain the number three slot from Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath. He was last ranked third at the end of the Test series against South Africa in February 2013.

If the performance in the first Test is anything to go by, then Saeed could potentially overtake South Africa’s second-ranked Vernon Philander if he delivers a similar performance in the second Test also starting in Harare, from Tuesday.

The ICC player rankings for Test bowlers is still headed by South Africa’s pace merchant Dale Steyn.

Outside the top 20, the only other bowler to make a positive move was Pakistan’s Junaid Khan in 34th (up by four).

Apart from the player of the match in the Harare Test, Younis Khan, Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq in 15th (up by one) is the only other batsman inside the top 20 to head in the right direction in the ICC player rankings for Test batsmen.

The ICC player rankings for Test batsmen is still headed by Hashim Amla, followed by West Indies’ Shivnarine Chanderpaul in second place and South Africa’s AB de Villiers in third position.—PPI