Overview
- Rahmat Shah climbed six places to world No.7 with a career-high 735 rating in the ICC update published on Wednesday after his 173 in Sharjah.
- The 173 came in the opening Test against Zimbabwe at Sharjah, a high-scoring drawn match in which both sides posted totals above 500.
- The jump reflects Rahmat’s sustained 2026 form and his role as Afghanistan’s Test and ODI captain following a leadership change earlier this year.
- The same Nov. 11 rankings release credited big performances elsewhere, including Zimbabwe’s Craig Ervine after an unbeaten double-century, Bangladesh’s Towhid Hridoy after a 242, and gains for several Indian bowlers from the India–New Zealand ODI series.
- Rahmat’s entry into the top 10 follows Afghanistan’s recent rise to a career-best sixth in the ODI team rankings and highlights the nation’s deeper red-ball capability that may boost its standing and scheduling opportunities internationally.