Rahmat Shah etches name in history as Afghanistan's first-ever to break into top 10 of ICC Test Rankings

Afghanistan's captain Rahmat Shah scripted history as he became the first player from his nation to break into top 10 ICC Test Rankings. Afghanistan’s cricket journey has been defined by rapid progression, resilience, and groundbreaking milestones. In November 2026, the nation reached another significant pinnacle as 33-year-old batter Rahmat Shah became the first-ever Afghan cricketer to break into the top 10 of any category in the official ICC Men’s Player Rankings.

Following the weekly update published by the International Cricket Council (ICC), Rahmat vaulted six places to secure the 7th spot in the world Test batting rankings. Achieving a career-best rating, Rahmat leapfrogged several established international stars, including India captain Shubman Gill, South Africa’s opening batter Aiden Markram, and Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis.

Afghan's Rahmat Shah breaks into ICC Test Rankings

This milestone reflects both Rahmat’s individual technical mastery and Afghanistan’s steady emergence as a competitive force in long-format cricket.

The catalyst for Rahmat’s historic ranking surge came during the opening match of Afghanistan's two-Test series against Zimbabwe at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Leading the top order, Rahmat produced a majestic innings of 173 runs. The knock was characterized by patient defense, precise footwork against spin, and crisp stroke-play along the ground. It marked Rahmat's fifth century in Test cricket and his second of 2026, anchoring Afghanistan’s total in a closely contested drawn fixture.

Rahmat's performance yielded a substantial influx of ranking points, propelling him directly into elite company alongside the top Test batters in world cricket.

The Pillar of Afghanistan's Test batting

Since Afghanistan was awarded Test status in 2017, Rahmat Shah has consistently served as the team's primary batting pillar.

Pioneer of Firsts: Rahmat was the first Afghan batter to score a century in Test cricket (102 against Bangladesh at Chattogram in 2019) and was the first player from the nation to reach 1,000 Test runs.

Adaptability: Known for his classical right-handed technique and composure, Rahmat bridges the gap between traditional red-ball grit and the aggressive white-ball identity that originally made Afghan cricket famous.

Dual Responsibility: Beyond his top-order batting duties, Rahmat has also taken on captaincy responsibilities, providing stable leadership to a squad navigating a complex international calendar.

The same ICC rankings release highlighted several notable performances across international teams:

Craig Ervine’s Ascent: Zimbabwe’s veteran batter Craig Ervine enjoyed a major boost in the Test batter rankings, climbing nine places to 48th after scoring an unbeaten double-century in the second innings of the drawn Sharjah Test against Afghanistan.

White-Ball Momentum: Afghanistan’s white-ball teams have maintained exceptional form. Earlier in November 2026, Afghanistan achieved a career-high ranking of 6th in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings after securing a tri-series victory over Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.

While leg-spin superstar Rashid Khan and all-rounders Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai have previously topped or reached high positions in white-ball bowling and all-rounder rankings, Rahmat Shah’s entrance into the top 10 represents a new frontier. It marks the first time any Afghan player has penetrated the top 10 of the Test batting table, establishing a precedent for emerging full-member nations.

Rahmat's achievement demonstrates that Afghan batters can construct long, match-defining innings against quality international attack strategies. As Afghanistan continues to build its Test match calendar, Rahmat's ranking landmark stands as a defining moment for the nation's cricketing growth.