Sadia Iqbal reclaims No. 1 spot in bowlers’ rankings
DUBAI, Feb 17: Sadia Iqbal has reclaimed the No.1 position in the ICC Women’s T20I Bowling Rankings after a series of impressive performances against South Africa.The Pakistan left-arm spinner surged back to the summit, overtaking Australia quick Annabel Sutherland and India’s experienced tweaker Deepti Sharma in the latest update to the ICC 
Women’s Player Rankings. Iqbal’s rise comes on the back of a strong showing in Pakistan’s recent three-match T20I series in South Africa, where she emerged as the joint leading wicket-taker.Iqbal claimed five wickets across the series, with her standout performance a superb 3-18 in the deciding match in Benoni, playing a pivotal role in her return to the top of the standings. That decisive spell lifted her two places in the rankings, restoring her to a position she previously held toward the end of 2024 and again briefly last year. Sutherland had reclaimed the No.1 ranking only last month, but Iqbal’s consistency and match-winning impact have now seen her move back in front.There was more good news for Pakistan in the latest rankings update. Captain Fatima Sana made significant strides in multiple categories following her all-around heroics in the series finale. The 22-year-old climbed 31 places to equal 28th in the T20I batting rankings and also advanced five spots to sixth among T20I all-rounders.Fatima’s surge was fuelled by a Player of the Match display in the final game against the Proteas, where she struck an unbeaten 47 from just 30 deliveries and also collected two key wickets. Among her scalps was South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt, although the Protea batter still enjoyed a modest rise of her own, edging up one place to fourth in the T20I batting rankings.Meanwhile, several Indian bowlers were rewarded for their efforts in the rain-affected opening match of their T20I series in Australia. Renuka Singh moved up six places to fifth, Arundhati Reddy jumped 19 positions to equal 16th, and Shree Charani climbed eight spots to 39th, reflecting their strong contributions with the ball.(IANS)
Tvesa, Ridhima share lead after Day 1 of fourth Leg of WPGT
PUNE, Feb 17: Tvesa Malik and Ridhima Dilawari carded a matching three-under 68 to share the lead after day one of Leg-4 of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour here on Tuesday.Tvesa produced three birdies in the closing four holes, while Ridhima had five birdies on her front nine at the Poona Club Golf Course.The third player in the marquee group, Vani Kapoor (69) was one shot behind in sole third, while amateur Anuradha Chaudhary (70) was the only other player to shoot an under par round and was fourth.Tvesa, who won a play-off last week in Pune, had one bogey and one birdie on the front nine, while Ridhima ran away with five birdies.Riddhima added a sixth birdie and went 6-under, but dropped a shot on the 11th, birdied the 14th, her seventh birdie of the day, before dropping a double bogey on the 15th and a closing bogey for a 68.Tvesa birdied the 12th and bogeyed the 13th and was even par with four holes to go. She birdied the 15th, parred the 16th and closed birdie-birdie to share the lead.Amateur Lavanya Gupta carded 1-over 72 and was fifth, while five players, Sneha Singh, Durga Nittur, Jasmine Shekar, Anivtha Narender and Vidhatri Urs were all tied sixth at 2-over 73 each.Among other top stars, Amandeep Drall (74) was T-11 and Neha Tripathi (75) was T-14.The field this week has a record 49 players vying for a prize purse of Rs. 17 lakhs. (PTI)
