Younus climbs to sixth in Test rankings

Yasir moves up to the fourth place courtesy of his impressive form

DUBAI: Younus Khan and debut centurion Shan Masood’s heroics in Pakistan’s seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the third Test earned them significant gains in the latest ICC Test Player Rankings, which were released on Wednesday.

Veteran Younus has climbed two places to sixth in the ICC Player Rankings for Test Batsmen following his player of the match innings of 171 not out to steer the visitors home and seal the series 2-1.

It was Younus’ 30th Test century in 101 matches to date. In doing so, he has broken the Test record for the number of fourth-innings hundreds edging clear of an illustrious list containing Sunil Gavaskar, Ricky Ponting, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Graeme Smith.

His match-winning third-wicket partnership of 217 runs with Masood (125) was also Pakistan’s highest in Test history and enabled the 25-year-old, in his fifth Test, to leap 27 places to a career-high 88th position.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz Ahmed has also broken into the Test top 20 for the first time in his career as his 78 not out in the first innings moved him up four places to 17th.

For Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews, it was a bittersweet game as his 122 in the second innings, which was his fifth Test century, was not enough to guide his side to victory. Mathews has remained in fifth place in the rankings, 14 points behind his recently retired compatriot Kumar Sangakkara.

Dimuth Karunaratne’s 130 has elevated the Colombo-man nine places to a career-high 32nd, while other notable movers for the hosts were wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal (up seven places to 45th) and Upul Tharanga (up nine places to a career high 48th).

In the ICC Player Rankings for Test Bowlers, Yasir Shah of Pakistan has continued his fine recent run of form with match figures of seven wickets for 158 runs to move up four places to a career-high fourth place.

There were also career-high gains for Rahat Ali (who has moved up six places to 41st) and Imran Khan (up 19 places to 54th).

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2015.

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