Saadia Iqbal is first Pakistani woman to top ICC T20 rankings

Pakistan's Saadia Iqbal has made history by becoming the first Pakistani woman to temporarily hold the top position in the ICC T20 player rankings.

The spinner achieved this milestone by surpassing England's Sophie Ecclestone, who has dominated the rankings since February 2020.

Saadia Iqbal briefly took the lead in the rankings after taking three wickets for just 17 runs in the opening match of the Women's T20 World Cup against Sri Lanka.

However, by the end of the week, Ecclestone regained her position, leaving Iqbal in second place.

The two bowlers are separated by a mere eight rating points, with Ecclestone currently at 762 and Iqbal at 754.

With the ongoing mega event, there is a possibility that Saadia Iqbal could reclaim the top position once again.

This year has been outstanding for Iqbal, who has taken 28 wickets in 17 matches, making her one of the most formidable bowlers in the T20 format.

Notably, former Pakistan captain Sana Mir is the only other Pakistani woman to have held the top position in the ICC ODI player rankings, achieving this in 2018-19.

Pakistan claims victory against Sri Lanka in Women's T20

Earlier, Pakistan's women's cricket team delivered a commendable performance against Sri Lanka, showcasing their resilience in their opening match of the Women's T20 World Cup.

After winning the toss, Pakistan elected to bat first but faced early setbacks, losing wickets at regular intervals.

The pressure mounted as they stumbled to 84-8, but captain Fatima Sana stepped up when her team needed it most.

Her quickfire 30 runs helped them set a competitive target of 117 runs.

Sri Lanka's bowlers, particularly Sugandika Kumari and Chamari Athapaththu, proved to be significant challenges, each claiming three wickets.

However, Pakistan's bowlers responded strongly in defence of their total.

Left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal led the attack with three crucial wickets, while Nashra Sandhu, Omaima Sohail, and Fatima Sana each contributed with two wickets.

This tight bowling effort ensured that Sri Lanka struggled to build partnerships, ultimately falling short of their target by 31 runs.

The match was a testament to Pakistan's depth and determination in the face of adversity.

Despite the early loss of key wickets and the injury to opening bowler Diana Baig, the team maintained their composure.

Sana's leadership was instrumental in guiding the team to victory, as she noted the importance of taking vital wickets, particularly that of Sri Lanka's captain, Athapaththu.

The win not only marked a positive start for Pakistan in the tournament but also set the tone for their campaign ahead.