ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – Pakistan spinners Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman were listed among the top 10 test bowlers in rankings published by the International Cricket Council on Sunday.
The duo played a key role in their team’s remarkable 72-run win against England in the second test on Saturday.
According to the ICC, two Pakistan spinners have not made the top 10 in 23 years.
The last time was in Sept. 1988 when the list included legspinner Abdul Qadir and leftarm spinner Iqbal Qasim.
Offspinner Ajmal is listed second behind South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn while leftarmer Rehman improved five places after his 6-25 on Saturday and is listed at No. 9. England’s James Anderson is listed third.
The pair has taken the bulk of the 40 England wickets to fall in the two test matches, with Ajmal taking 17 and Rehman 12.
Ajmal and Rehman will be looking to raise their totals when they take on England in the third test at Dubai, where Pakistan won the first test by 10 wickets.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq also broke into the top 10 batsmen’s rankings for the first time in his career at No. 8.
Sri Lanka’s former captain Kumar Sangakkara heads the batting followed by South Africa’s Jacques Kallis and Australia captain Michael Clarke.
