Rahmat Shah Makes History as First Afghan Cricketer to Break into ICC Test Rankings Top 10

Key points

1. Rahmat Shah became the first Afghanistan player to enter the top 10 of any category in the ICC Men's Test Player Rankings.
2. Rahmat rose six places to seventh in the Test batting rankings after scoring 173 in the opening Test against Zimbabwe in Sharjah.
3. The 33-year-old earned a career-best rating of 735 points, according to the ICC's November 11 update.
4. The 173 was Rahmat's fifth Test century and his second of 2026.
5. Sediqullah Atal moved up 14 places to 81st after scoring 105, while Rahmanullah's debut Test innings of 113 lifted him to joint-83rd.
6. Zimbabwe's Craig Ervine climbed nine places to 48th after scoring an unbeaten double-century in the second innings of the drawn Test.
7. Afghanistan had earlier reached sixth in the ICC Men's ODI Team Rankings, their highest-ever position, after winning a tri-series involving Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.

Afghanistan captain Rahmat Shah has broken new ground in international cricket, becoming the first player from his country to enter the top 10 in any category of the ICC Men's Test Player Rankings. The right-handed batter climbed six places to seventh in the Test batting list after producing a career-best 173 against Zimbabwe in Sharjah.

The ICC confirmed the milestone in its rankings update published on November 11, 2026. Rahmat's innings in the opening match of the two-Test series earned him a personal-best 735 rating points and marked another landmark in Afghanistan's rise in the longest format.

Career-best 173 powers Rahmat into the top seven

Rahmat's 173 came in a high-scoring Test against Zimbabwe in Sharjah. The 33-year-old's performance was his fifth century in Test cricket and his second of the year. The six-place jump took him to seventh in the batting rankings, ahead of several established names, including India's Shubman Gill, South Africa's Aiden Markram and Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis, according to the ICC update.

The ranking milestone is significant because Afghanistan have been a Test-playing nation for a relatively short period compared with the established cricketing countries. Rahmat's rise places an Afghan player among the leading Test batters in the world for the first time, reflecting the progress made by the country's cricket programme and its senior team.

His achievement also follows a productive period for Afghanistan in white-ball cricket. Earlier in November, the team reached sixth in the ICC Men's ODI Team Rankings, their highest-ever position, after winning a tri-series involving Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.

Afghanistan's batting group also makes progress

Rahmat was not the only Afghanistan batter to benefit from the Sharjah Test. Sediqullah Atal moved up 14 places to 81st after scoring 105, and reached a career-best rating of 414 points. Rahmanullah also entered the rankings after scoring 113 in his debut Test innings, moving to joint-83rd.

The performances underline the growing depth in Afghanistan's batting. Rahmat's experience and composure have made him a central figure in the Test side, while Atal and Rahmanullah's contributions show how younger players are adding to the team's options. Their ranking gains followed a match in which Afghanistan's batters were able to build substantial totals against Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe batters rewarded after record-breaking match

Zimbabwe also had several notable gains in the latest rankings update. Veteran batter Craig Ervine climbed nine places to 48th after scoring an unbeaten double-century in the second innings. At 41 years and 84 days, Ervine became the third-oldest player to score a Test double-century, according to the ICC release.

Brian Bennett moved up 10 places to 75th after scoring 128 and 58, while Brendan Taylor surged 29 positions to 103rd after making 131 and 82. Wessly Madhevere also entered the top 100 for the first time, reaching 99th after scoring his maiden Test century.

The Sharjah contest ended in a draw after both teams posted more than 500 runs in each innings. Zimbabwe's achievement of scoring over 500 in both innings made them the first team in Test history to do so in the same match, adding another unusual statistical landmark to the fixture.

Rankings movement across the Test game

The November 11 update also reflected performances in the World Test Championship series between Bangladesh and the West Indies. The second match in Sylhet ended in a draw, allowing the West Indies to secure the series after winning the opener by eight wickets.

Bangladesh batter Towhid Hridoy made a major leap after scoring an unbeaten 242 in the first innings and 82 in the second. He rose from 175th to 60th in the Test batting rankings. West Indies batter Kavem Hodge advanced 12 places to 52nd after scoring 142 in the second innings, while teammate Amir Jangoo climbed 28 places to 62nd after making 133 in the first innings.

West Indies spinner Jomel Warrican was another major mover. Following his Player of the Series performance, he rose 11 places to equal 19th in the Test bowling rankings and moved up four places to 31st among Test all-rounders. Justin Greaves gained one place to share eighth in the all-rounders' list.

A milestone for Afghanistan's Test journey

Rahmat's entry into the top 10 is more than an individual ranking achievement. It is a first for Afghanistan in the ICC Men's Test rankings and arrives at a time when the national team is also making progress in the ODI format. The captain's 173 in Sharjah has provided a direct result on the field and a historic outcome in the rankings.

For Afghanistan, the next challenge will be to build on this achievement through consistent performances against established Test nations. For Rahmat, seventh place and 735 rating points represent career highs, but maintaining that position will depend on future performances. His breakthrough has nevertheless established a new benchmark for Afghan players in Test cricket.