Thaindian News

Dubai, July 8 (IANS) Pakistan’s Mohammad Yousuf could not have asked for a more successful return to international cricket. Despite a year-long absence, the
right-hander needed just a century to break through to the top of the Test rankings.

Yousuf has toppled his captain Younus Khan to achieve the No.1 ranking in the Reliance Mobile International Cricket Council’s rankings for the first time in his career.

Yousuf was second when he was removed from the rankings table early in 2009 as Pakistan had not played a Test match since before the qualification date for the rankings.

Pakistan have a 1-2 in the latest batting table for the first time since the rankings were introduced in June 1987.

Yousuf, who is the only Pakistan batsman to have reached the 900-point mark, scored 112 and 12 as Pakistan squandered a winning position to lose the first Test against Sri Lanka by 50 runs while chasing 168 runs.

Younus’s opposite-number Kumar Sangakkara, who scored 9 and 14, has dropped two places to fifth position.

Sangakkara’s fall has benefitted India opener Gautam Gambhir and Shivnarine Chanderpaul of the West Indies. Both the left-handers have moved up one place each to occupy third and fourth places respectively.

In the rankings for bowlers, Sri Lanka’s left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, who took

4-15 in the second innings, has jumped eight places to 48th position.

Sri Lanka’s iconic spinner Muttiah Muralitharan heads the bowlers list, followed by second-placed Dale Steyn of South Africa.

Jacques Kallis continues to lead the Test all-rounder’s list with Mitchell Johnson of Australia second and New Zealand’s Daniel Vettori third.