By For the first time since December 2019, former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has fallen out of the ICC Men’s Top 10 Test Batsmen rankings. With 712 points, Babar slipped three spots to No. 12, following a series of lackluster performances that have drawn widespread criticism.
The 29-year-old’s recent form has been under scrutiny, as he managed only 64 runs in four innings during Pakistan’s two-match Test series against Bangladesh. Babar has failed to score a half-century in his last 16 Test innings.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Rizwan is the only Pakistani player to retain a spot in the top 10, sitting at No. 10. Saud Shakeel, another Pakistani batter, slipped seven spots to 20th, while Salman Ali Agha climbed nine places to reach 31st.
In contrast, England’s Joe Root has reclaimed the top spot in the ICC Test Batter Rankings after his impressive performances in the second Test against Sri Lanka. Root now holds 922 rating points, just one point shy of his career-best rating of 923, achieved in July 2022. Only Len Hutton, Jack Hobbs, and Peter May have higher career ratings among English Test batsmen.
Root’s performance, which included back-to-back centuries, secured his lead over New Zealand’s Kane Williamson. However, England’s Gus Atkinson stole the spotlight with his all-round performance, moving up 48 spots in the ICC All-Rounder Rankings and breaking into the top 30 for bowlers.
Sri Lanka’s players also made significant strides in the rankings. Kamindu Mendis moved up 11 places to 25th in the batting rankings, while Asitha Fernando broke into the top 10 for bowlers after his eight-wicket haul. Bangladesh, too, saw gains after their clean sweep against Pakistan. Litton Das’s century propelled him 12 places to 15th in the batting rankings, while Mehedy Hasan Miraz rose to 7th in the all-rounder rankings after his contributions with both bat and ball.
In the bowling department, Bangladesh’s Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana also achieved career-best rankings after their strong performances against Pakistan.
This latest update highlights the dynamic shifts in the ICC rankings, with Pakistani players struggling to maintain their positions and players from England, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh rising through the ranks.
