Game Changer: Sadia Iqbal Takes Top T20I Bowling Honors

By Mehr Jan The cricketing world has a new queen of spin. Pakistan’s Sadia Iqbal has climbed to the No. 1 spot in the ICC Women's Bowler Rankings, leapfrogging India’s Deepti Sharma and capitalizing on England star Sophie Ecclestone’s absence from international play. It’s a moment of national pride for Pakistan, as Iqbal regains a position she briefly held during the 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup.  Her return to the top comes after a reshuffle triggered by Ecclestone sitting out England’s recent series against the West Indies. The English left-armer had held the top position for a staggering 1,026 days. A Global Shakeup in the Rankings While Ecclestone slipped to fourth, Iqbal now leads the rankings with 746 rating points, edging out Sharma (737) and Australia’s Annabel Sutherland (736). England’s Renuka Singh Thakur rounds out the top five with 728 points. Iqbal’s rise coincides with notable shifts across the women's cricket leaderboard.  England’s Lauren Bell surged 13 places to claim sixth after a stando