Babar Azam has fallen to 15th in the ICC Test rankings, raising alarms for Pakistan cricket. With no players in the top 10 and concerns over team performance, the pressure is on for a comeback as they prepare for upcoming series.
The ICC rankings measure a player’s performance over time. Babar Azam fall follows a series of underwhelming performances in Tests. Although he excels in limited-overs formats, his inconsistency in Tests has led to this drop. While he remains the team captain and a fan favorite, his decline has sparked discussions about Pakistan’s overall performance in red-ball cricket.
England’s Joe Root remains the top-ranked Test batter, followed by New Zealand’s Kane Williamson in second. England’s Harry Brook has surged to third place, proving himself as a top performer.
Pakistan’s vice-captain, Saud Shakeel, has climbed to 20th, offering a glimmer of hope for the team. However, wicketkeeper-batsman Muhammad Rizwan has dropped 12 places to 19th. His decline adds to the concerns about Pakistan’s Test lineup, as no players currently sit in the top 10.
The bowling rankings tell a similar story. India’s Jasprit Bumrah holds the top spot, while Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi has fallen to 14th after losing four places. The absence of Pakistani players in the top 10 for both batting and bowling categories is alarming and shows the need for improvement.
As Pakistan prepares for upcoming series, pressure mounts on players and the team to perform better. With the talent in the squad, fans hope to see players climb back up the rankings. This decline serves as a wake-up call for Pakistan cricket but also presents an opportunity to rebuild and focus on the fundamentals.
