Afghanistan cricket has reached another landmark as captain and veteran batter Rahmat Shah entered the top 10 of ICC Men’s Test Batting Rankings for the first time. The 33-year-old became the first Afghan cricketer to break into top 10 in any category of ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings.
In the ICC rankings update released on November 11, 2026 Rahmat Shah rose six places to seventh in Test batters list. He scored career-best rating of 735 points and is among some of the best red ball cricketers in the world now.
Rahmat Shah's Historic Achievement in ICC Rankings
Shah’s rise to seventh place is a big step for Afghanistan cricket. He has been consistent, experienced and increasingly important in the Test batting line-up of Afghanistan.
Prior to this rankings update, no Afghan player had entered the top 10 in any category of ICC Men's Test Player Rankings.
Rahmat was ahead of several established internationals in the order India’s Shubman Gill, South Africa’s Aiden Markram and Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis.
England’s Harry Brook and Joe Root remained the top two Test batsmen.
173 Runs Against Zimbabwe Powered His Rise
The main reason for Rahmat Shah’s rankings jump was his performance against Zimbabwe in the first Test of their two-match series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
After Zimbabwe scored 504 runs in their first innings Afghanistan needed a strong batting response and Rahmat responded superbly with 173 from 347 deliveries.
He scored 14 boundaries and three sixes as Afghanistan reached 514.
Rahmat also had a 92-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Zia-ur-Rehman to ensure Afghanistan took first innings lead.
The match eventually ended in a draw after Zimbabwe made 523/5 in their second innings.
A historic first for Afghanistan and gains for a West Indies performer in the latest ICC Men’s Player Rankings 👌 More ➡️ https://t.co/ZDaetQixgK https://t.co/FdyJz6ZUtg
— ICC (@ICC) November 11, 2026
A Successful Year for Afghanistan's Experienced Batter
The latest ranking result is just another feather in Rahmat Shah’s cap in 2026.
His 173 against Zimbabwe was his second Test century of the year and fifth in his Test career.
He had also impressed against Bangladesh in October with 105 in first innings and 51 in second innings of the one-off Test.
Rahmat’s reliability has also made him one of Afghanistan’s most dependable batters in the longest format of international cricket.
What This Means for Afghanistan Cricket
Rahmat Shah’s achievement is another step on the road to Afghanistan becoming a competitive Test cricket nation.
Afghanistan got Test status in 2017 and has gradually built its way into international cricket through the performances of its experienced players.
Rahmat entering ICC Test batting top 10 is a landmark for the country’s cricketing history and could inspire the next generation of Afghan players.
With his experience and leadership Rahmat Shah continues to be important in Afghanistan’s international cricket journey.
Disclaimer: Rankings and statistics mentioned in this article are from the ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings update released on November 11, 2026.
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