Bangladesh Stars Surge in ICC Women's T20I Rankings After Dominant World Cup Qualifier Run

The ICC Women's T20I Player Rankings have received a significant shake-up following impressive performances at the Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier in Nepal, with Bangladesh players emerging as the biggest winners in the latest update.

Unbeaten Run Drives Rankings Success

Bangladesh's dominant campaign at the qualifier event has translated into substantial rankings improvements across all disciplines. The Asian side remains unbeaten in the tournament and is on the verge of securing their spot at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in England and Wales later this year.

Batting Brilliance: Sharmin Akhter Leads the Charge

Top-order batter Sharmin Akhter has been the standout performer for Bangladesh, accumulating 156 runs from just four innings to become the second-highest run-scorer at the qualifier event. The right-handed batter has delivered match-winning contributions, including impressive half-centuries against USA and Ireland.

Akhter's consistent performances have propelled her up 22 places on the ICC Women's T20I batting rankings, where she now sits equal 35th overall. Her ability to anchor innings while maintaining a healthy scoring rate has been instrumental in Bangladesh's success.

Teammate Sobhana Mostary has also made notable progress, climbing 11 places to equal 52nd following a quartet of solid scores throughout the tournament.

Other Batting Movers

Beyond Bangladesh, several international stars have improved their standings:

• Gaby Lewis (Ireland) — Up one place to equal 15th, the Irish captain continues to be a consistent performer
• Sterre Kalis (Netherlands) — Rises six rungs to 48th overall after strong showings at the qualifier

Bowling Rankings: Rabeya Khan Spins Her Way Up

Bangladesh's bowling attack has been equally impressive, with spinner Rabeya Khan leading the way. The crafty spinner has claimed seven wickets through the first four matches and improves one place to move to 14th overall on the T20I bowling rankings.

Fahima Khatun has been another key contributor with the ball, gaining six places to reach 30th on the bowling list. The duo's ability to control the middle overs and pick up crucial wickets has been vital to Bangladesh's unbeaten run.

Rising Stars Make Their Mark

The qualifier has also served as a platform for emerging talents to announce themselves on the world stage:

• Katherine Fraser (Scotland) — The 20-year-old has been sensational, climbing 17 places to equal 44th on the bowling rankings
• Sunida Chaturongrattana (Thailand) — The spinner rises nine spots to equal 46th following impressive performances

All-Rounder Rankings: Fraser's Meteoric Rise

Scotland's Katherine Fraser has been the biggest mover on the all-rounder rankings, making contributions with both bat and ball throughout the tournament. The talented youngster has rocketed up a remarkable 39 places to reach 25th overall on the T20I all-rounder list.

At just 20 years of age, Fraser's rapid ascent signals a bright future for Scottish cricket and demonstrates the depth of talent emerging from associate nations.

Road to the T20 World Cup

With Bangladesh closing in on qualification for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in England and Wales, these rankings gains could not have come at a better time. The confidence gained from their unbeaten run at the qualifier, combined with improved individual rankings, positions them as a team to watch at the main event.

Looking Ahead

The Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier continues to provide opportunities for players from developing cricket nations to stake their claim on the international stage. As the tournament progresses, further rankings movements are expected, with qualification spots for the main event still up for grabs.

Bangladesh's comprehensive team effort, highlighted by standout performances from Sharmin Akhter, Rabeya Khan, and their supporting cast, has demonstrated that they are more than ready to compete at the highest level when the T20 World Cup kicks off later this year.