Ever since ICC’s rule change of granting international status for T20 playing associated in the T20 rankings, we have seen a great number of teams push for the recognition and more number of players fighting to be the leader of the pack in recognition of their skill and talent. Today we take a look at all the top-rated all-rounders from associate nations in the top 10 ICC T20 all-rounders rankings.
1) Richard Berrington (Scotland)
The 33-year-old Scotch all-rounder was born in South Africa and migrated to Scotland as a child. His skill in the game was very evident at such a young age as he represented the youth teams of the national side starting from his teenage years. At the age of 18, He went to India as part of the ICC’s European Cricket Academy and he was also part of ICC’s winter training camp in Pretoria.
Richie Berrington is the highest rated all-rounder from associate nations, placed 4th in the ICC’s T20 all-rounder rankings. He was ranked 113th in 2009 before he turned around things and worked his way up the table. Berrington has played 61 T20I matches hitting 1247 runs carrying a strike rate of 128.9 holding an average of 28.8, which includes a century and three half-centuries. As a right-arm fast bowler, he has claimed 27 wickets at an economy rate of 7.48. Ever known for his inconsistency, the all-rounder is placing himself as one of the most important players for Scotland Cricket.
2) Khawar Ali (Oman)
Representing Oman, Khawar Ali is the 7th best T20 all-rounder in the world based on ICC rankings. Making his debut for T20I for Oman playing against Afghanistan in 2015, He was the highest-scoring batsman on the side. Ever since he has gone on to play an important role for the team. He was named man of the series in ICC World Cricket League Division Two in 2016. Earning the vice-captain title when Oman played in the 2018 Asia Cup Qualifier.
He is a right-hand opening batsman and right-arm leg-spin bowler, placed 87th for batting and 56th for bowling in ICC’s T20I rankings. His best performances started from 2017 as rose through the ranks from the 53rd position. He has played 32 T20I’s accumulating 601 runs at a strike rate of 99.96, scoring at an average of 20.72 which consists of two half-centuries. As a bowler, he has 35 scalps at an economy rate of 6.48. With only a few more years left in the game, the 35-year-old will be looking to make a big statement.
3) Collins Obuya (Kenya)
The bowling all-rounder hit the spotlight as a part of the famous Kenyan team that made it to the semi-finals in the 2003 ICC World Cup. Picking up 13 wickets at 28.76, including a 5 for 24 in their stunning victory against Sri Lanka in Nairobi. He missed his opportunity for the next big event due to appendicitis ruling him out for the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy. Later on, due to lack of match practice, the Kenyan struggled with his bowling and so developed his batting skills.
The 39-year-old is the 8th best all-rounder in the ICC T20 all-rounder rankings. His last T20 match was against Papua New Guinea, where he picked by 3 wickets for 17 runs from 3 overs but scored only 10 runs as all Kenyan batsmen struggled, falling short of their target by 45 runs. Collins Obuya has played 35 T20I’s scoring 691 runs carrying a strike rate of 106.47, holding an average of 25.59 including four half-centuries. And has picked up 23 wickets at an economy of 6.38. Nearing the end of his career, the Kenyan has been one of the pioneers of Kenyan cricket.
4) Rohan Mustafa (United Arab Emirates)
The Emirati cricketer came to Sharjah from Pakistan at the age of 10, soon enrolling in Sharjah cricket academy Rohan Mustafa was an astute learner of the game. Tragedy struck at the age of 15 when his father, also one of his cricketing mentors, passed away. But the all-rounder kept finding a way to continue his game despite his family's struggles and got selected for the UAE U-19 team in 2007. Ever since overcoming various hurdles, he has become an established player of the UAE senior cricket team.
The 32-year-old is an off-spinning all-rounder who is a top order left-hand batsman and right arm off break bowler. He made his T20 International debut for UAE against the Netherlands in March 2014. He has played a total of 43 International T20 matches amassing 766 runs hitting at a strike rate of 122.56. He has claimed 45 wickets from his 43 matches at an economy rate of 6.65 with his best figures being 4 for 18. The Emirati cricketer is the 9th best all-rounder in the ICC T20 all-rounder rankings as he continues to push the team to new heights,
5) Zeeshan Maqsood (Oman)
Zeeshan Maqsood is the second all-rounder in the list representing Oman after Khawar Ali. He was the leading run-scorer in the ICC World Cricket League Division Five 2016, with a total of 350 runs in the tournament. He then went on to captain the Omani squad at various tournaments. He currently leads the team, As the Oman cricket team participated in the qualifiers for the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup.
The 33-year-old all-rounder is a left-hand batsman and slow left arm orthodox bowler, the 10th best T20 all-rounder in ICC T20 all-rounder rankings. Playing a total of 31 T20 International matches, He has scored 56 runs striking at a rate of 111.63 which includes two half-centuries, his highest score being 56. As a bowler he has picked up 18 wickets at an economy of 6.77, his best figures being 4 for 7. With Oman making a great push for International recognition in the sport of cricket, Zeeshan Maqsood remains to be an integral part of the team.
With greater recognition in the game, we will continue to see the rise of new teams and players from all over the world. With the sport of cricket on the rise, let us know which associate nation has impressed you the most and which associate all-rounder has the potential to make it all the way.
