KEY POINTS
- Saud Shakeel remains Pakistan’s highest-ranked Test batter, holding 9th position globally.
- Spinner Noman Ali retains his spot as the world’s No. 2 ranked Test bowler.
- Pakistani bowlers, including Mohammad Abbas and Abrar Ahmed, slipped down the rankings.
DUBAI: Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam and captain Shan Masood have registered gains in the latest update to the ICC Test rankings, providing a bright spot amidst mixed fortunes for the national side’s players across both batting and bowling lists.
Batters: Babar, Masood gain ground
Batting rankings saw measured progress for two of Pakistan’s most experienced campaigners.
Former captain Babar Azam edged up one place to 22nd position with 656 rating points.
Test skipper Shan Masood made a more significant move, climbing two spots to secure 42nd place with 576 points.
His rise reflects a period of consistent accumulation at the top of the order.
The highest-ranked Pakistani batter remains Saud Shakeel, who holds firm in ninth position with 734 points.
Mohammad Rizwan also retained his place at 21st. However, all-rounder Salman Ali Agha slipped one spot to 28th.
Further down the list, Abdullah Shafique dropped one place to 57th, while Aamer Jamal and Saim Ayub both rose one spot to share 94th position.
England’s Joe Root and Harry Brook continue to dominate the top of the Test batting rankings, occupying first and second place respectively.
Bowlers: Shaheen steady as others fluctuate
Bowling rankings presented a more static picture for Pakistan’s leading pace threat. Left-arm spearhead Shaheen Afridi maintained his 24th position.
There were minor declines for seamer Mohammad Abbas and off-spinner Sajid Khan, each falling one place to 29th and 30th, respectively. Spinner Abrar Ahmed also dropped one spot to 51st.
The only upward movement came from veteran pacer Hasan Ali, who climbed one place to 43rd with 480 points. Naseem Shah (38th), Khurram Shahzad (70th), and Aamer Jamal (78th) all held their positions.
Noman Ali remains a standout for Pakistan in the global context, holding onto his career-high ranking of second in the world.
He trails only India’s Jasprit Bumrah, who continues to lead the Test bowling rankings.
The updated ratings come during a relatively quiet period for Pakistan in the Test arena, with individual performances in domestic cricket and past series influencing the current standings.
