Afghanistan Test and One-Day International captain Rahmat Shah has created history by becoming the first cricketer from his nation to enter the top ten of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test batting rankings. Prior to this landmark achievement, no Afghan player across any category—whether as a batter, bowler, or all-rounder—had ever managed to break into the top ten in red-ball cricket. Rahmat brought an end to that long wait following a remarkable batting performance that elevated him to a career-high standing in world cricket.

The historic climb was triggered by Rahmat’s outstanding performance in the first Test of the series against Zimbabwe in Sharjah, where he struck a magnificent 173 runs. That commanding knock propelled him six places up the standings to seventh position, whilst also earning him his highest-ever rating points total. The run-heavy encounter, which featured three team totals exceeding 500 runs, ultimately concluded in a high-scoring draw.

This century marked the fifth of Rahmat’s Test career and his second of the current calendar year. His impressive form has seen him leapfrog several established international stars in the latest ICC update, including India’s Shubman Gill, South Africa’s Aiden Markram, and Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis. The milestone reflects the steady growth and competitive spirit of Afghan cricket in the longest format of the game.

Rahmat’s personal achievement comes on the heels of collective team success earlier in the month, when Afghanistan achieved their highest-ever ICC ODI team ranking by ascending to sixth place. That surge followed convincing victories over both Zimbabwe and Bangladesh in a tri-series tournament. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine also made significant gains in the Test rankings after delivering a sensational performance in the same Sharjah Test. Ervine’s unbeaten 206 in the second innings saw him climb nine places to 48th in the ICC Test batting ladder.