Babar Azam and Mohammad Abbas improved their positions in the latest ICC Test rankings despite Pakistan’s 90-run defeat to the West Indies in the opening Test.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam and veteran fast bowler Mohammad Abbas have earned significant gains in the latest ICC Test rankings despite Pakistan’s 90-run defeat to the West Indies in the opening Test of the two-match series.
The updated rankings followed the first Test at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad, where the West Indies secured a 1-0 lead. Although Pakistan fell short, several players were rewarded for impressive individual performances.
Mohammad Abbas emerged as Pakistan’s biggest success story in the bowling rankings. The experienced pacer claimed three wickets in the first innings before producing a match-winning spell of 5-22 in the second innings. His eight-wicket haul lifted him nine places to 17th in the ICC Test bowling rankings.
Left-arm spinner Noman Ali retained his position as Pakistan’s highest-ranked Test bowler at seventh, while Shaheen Shah Afridi slipped four places to 29th. Off-spinner Sajid Khan also dropped one spot to 35th.
Babar Azam also enjoyed a welcome rise in the batting rankings. The Pakistan captain remained unbeaten on 58 during the visitors’ difficult chase of 211, providing one of the few bright moments in the match. His determined knock moved him up four places to 15th among ICC Test batters.
Former captain Shan Masood was another notable gainer after scoring a century in the first innings. His impressive hundred lifted him eight places to 36th in the latest Test batting rankings.
However, not all Pakistani batters experienced positive movement. Saud Shakeel dropped three places to 24th, Mohammad Rizwan slipped eight positions to 26th, and Salman Ali Agha fell four spots to 32nd.
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