T20 bowling: Ace Ajmal inches up to number 1 slot in ICC rankings

Ajmal scored 782 points in the ICC ratings. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE

After making it to the number one position in the International Cricket Council’s rankings for One-Day International (ODI) bowler, Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has become the number one bowler for Twenty20, according to the same rankings.

The 34-year-old, whose career’s best ratings came against Australia in the Twenty20 international at Dubai Stadium, scored 782 points in the ICC ratings.

While he was included in the ICC Test Team of the Year, his name was a notable exclusion from the ICC Cricketer of the Year, ICC Test Cricketer of the Year and ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year, despite an impressive performance during the 12-month qualifying period.

The prolific spinner has 120 international wickets to his name between the period August 4, 2011 and August 6, 2012, which is the most by any bowler.

Ajmal also has 72 Test wickets, again the most by any bowler.