Pakistan captain Babar Azam, opener Abdullah Shafique and several national team bowlers have made significant progress in the latest ICC Test rankings following Pakistan’s two-match series against the West Indies.
The series ended 1-1, with Babar emerging as Pakistan’s leading run-scorer and being named Player of the Series after accumulating 193 runs in four innings.
Babar breaks into Test top 10
Babar Azam made a notable five-place jump in the latest Test batting rankings. The Pakistan captain now sits at 10th position with 716 rating points.
His consistent performances against the West Indies helped him return to the top 10, strengthening his position as one of Pakistan’s leading Test batters.
Meanwhile, Saud Shakeel slipped two places to 26th with 634 points, while wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan dropped one place to 27th.
Abdullah Shafique makes major jump
Abdullah Shafique was among the biggest movers in the rankings after making his return to Test cricket.
The right-handed opener scored a century in the second Test against the West Indies and climbed 25 places to 32nd, reaching 607 rating points.
Other Pakistani batters moved in the opposite direction. Salman Ali Agha fell six places to 38th, while former captain Shan Masood dropped three places to 39th. Imam-ul-Haq also slipped four places to 57th.
Aamer Jamal moved up one place to 99th with 301 points.
At the top of the Test batting rankings, Australia’s Travis Head retained first position, followed by England’s Harry Brook and Joe Root.
Sajid Khan among Pakistan’s biggest gainers
Pakistan also saw movement in the Test bowling rankings.
Spinner Noman Ali dropped one place to eighth with 800 points, while Mohammad Abbas slipped to 18th. Shaheen Shah Afridi retained his 29th position with 611 points.
Sajid Khan, who took eight wickets during the West Indies series, climbed five places to 30th with 605 points.
Hasan Ali dropped one place to 39th, while Khurram Shahzad moved up one place to 51st. Aamer Jamal slipped to 82nd.
Mohammad Ali and Ali Usman make big strides
Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker in the series, Mohammad Ali, made an eight-place jump to 85th after claiming nine wickets.
Debutant spinner Ali Usman recorded the biggest rise among Pakistan’s bowlers. He climbed an impressive 58 places to 97th in the latest rankings.
India’s Jasprit Bumrah continued to lead the Test bowling rankings, with New Zealand’s Matt Henry second and Australia’s Mitchell Starc third.
The latest rankings provide a positive picture for Pakistan, particularly with Babar and Abdullah making significant gains with the bat and several bowlers improving their positions after the West Indies series.
