ISLAMABAD: Pakistan skipper Babar Azam now ranks higher than India’s Virat Kohli in the ICC batters’ rankings across all three formats of cricket, ODI, T20I and Tests.
Cricket fans have always loved to compare Azam with Kohli, especially after the former gave stellar performances over the past couple of years and has come to be widely regarded as one of the best contemporary batters in the world. Kohli too is often considered one of the best cricket players in the world and widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.
Azam’s Pakistan thumped India by 10 wickets in the highly anticipated clash between the two sides on October 24 during the ICC T20 World Cup 2020. Azam and Kohli had both scored half-centuries in the match.
In the ICC ODI batting rankings, the Pakistani captain is the world’s best batsman currently, ranked at number one with 873 points. Kohli follows Azam at number two, with 844 points under his belt.
In the ICC T20I batting rankings, Babar Azam and England’s Dawid Malan occupy the number one spot jointly with 805 points to their credit. Kohli, on the other hand, fails to make the cut even in the top 10 and is placed at number 11 in the list with 657 points.
As per the latest ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings, Babar Azam is ranked number 8 on the list with 750 points, while Kohli, who was previously a place higher above Babar Azam at number 7, has slipped two places below and is now at number 9 on the rankings table, with 747 points.
Kohli’s fall to number 9 on the table can be attributed to his dismal performance against South Africa in the Centurion Test where India’s former ODI and T20I captain scored only 53 runs against the Proteas at an average of 26.50.
Babar Azam outranks Kohli in batting in all three formats — ICC rankings
https://arab.news/zkm8h
Babar Azam outranks Kohli in batting in all three formats — ICC rankings
- Babar Azam occupies number 1 spot in both T20I and ODI batting rankings currently
- Kohli occupies 9th place in Test batting rankings while Babar Azam is at number 8
Pakistan stocks recover as oil supply fears ease after Islamabad seeks Red Sea route— analyst
- Pakistan has sought Saudi help to secure oil supplies via Red Sea port after Iran’s closure of Strait if Hormuz
- Analyst says higher crude oil prices, expectations of IMF releasing next loan tranche also triggered bullish activity
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani stocks marked a sharp recovery when trading closed on Thursday, as institutional activity increased following Islamabad’s move to seek crude oil supplies through the Red Sea port eased oil supply fears, a financial analyst said.
Pakistani stocks have recorded a sharp decline this week, with the benchmark KSE-100 index recording its largest-ever single-day decline on Monday when it plunged 16,089 points. Escalating conflict in the Middle East triggered panic selling at the Pakistani bourse, forcing a temporary trading halt on Monday.
The KSE-100 index, however, gained 3.49 percent or 5,433.46 points to close at 161,210.67 when trading ended on Thursday, up from the previous close of 155,777.21 points, according to Pakistan Stock Exchange’s (PSX) data.
Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik met Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki on Wednesday to discuss Iran’s closure of the key Strait of Hormuz, which has threatened Pakistan’s energy supply. Roughly 20 percent of the global oil and gas supply passes through the route. Saudi Arabia indicated it could facilitate shipments through the Red Sea port of Yanbu, offering an alternative route if Gulf shipping lanes remain disrupted, the petroleum ministry said on Wednesday.
“Stocks staged a sharp recovery at PSX amid institutional activity on easing fuel supply fears after KSA [Kingdom of Saudi Arabia] commits oil supplies through the Red Sea port,” Ahsan Mehanti, chief executive officer at Arif Habib Commodities, told Arab News.
He said higher global crude oil prices and expectations of the International Monetary Fund releasing its next tranche of the $7 billion loan for Pakistan also helped bullish activity at the PSX.
An IMF mission was in Pakistan to hold talks on the third review of a $7 billion Extended Fund Facility multi-year program, and for the second review of the $1.4 billion Resilience and Sustainability Facility this week.
However, the delegation left for Türkiye amid tensions in the Gulf. Pakistani officials have said talks are likely to continue virtually in the coming days.
Pakistani brokerage Topline Securities said in its daily market review report that strong institutional buying “turned the tide” on Thursday after the market’s recent overreaction to regional issues.
The report added that Hub Power Company (HUBC), Oil & Gas Development Company (OGDC), Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC), Engro Corporation (ENGROH), and Meezan Bank Limited (MEBL) collectively contributed 2,197 points to the KSE benchmark’s gain.
Topline Securities said 723 million shares were traded on Thursday, with K-Electric Limited (KEL) stealing the spotlight as more than 1.17 billion shares changed hands.
Pakistani investors are closely monitoring developments in the Gulf, particularly around energy routes and further retaliatory actions, as the conflict’s trajectory remains uncertain.
