Akeal Hosein tops T20I bowling rankings

West Indies spinner Akeal Hosein is now the world’s number-one ranked bowler in T20 internationals following the latest ICC player rankings released on Wednesday.

Hosein, with figures of 2 for 13 in the first CG United T20 International against Bangladesh at Arnos Vale, leapt three places to the summit of the rankings.

The left-arm spinner, who predominantly bowls in the powerplay, rose to 707 rating points, unseating England’s Adil Rashid, Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga, and Australia’s Adam Zampa.

Hosein, who is now the joint third-highest wicket-taker for the West Indies in the format with 60 scalps alongside Andre Russell, follows in the footsteps of Samuel Badree and Sunil Narine as the only West Indies bowlers to be ranked number one in T20s.

Meanwhile, Gudakesh Motie is ninth in the bowling rankings with 651 rating points, while Roston Chase rose to a career-best ninth in the all-rounder category.

On the batting side, captain Rovman Powell jumped 10 spots to now be ranked 22, as Shai Hope slipped four spots and is now ranked 24th.

Despite slipping three spots to 14th, Nicholas Pooran remains the highest-ranked West Indies batsman in the format, with Brandon King (17th) and Johnson Charles, who rose six places to 19th, the next best. (SportsMax)