Babar Azam back in Test top 10 as Pakistan stars surge after WI win
Synopsis
Babar Azam's return to the ICC Test top 10 after nearly a year away is the headline, but the deeper story is Pakistan's collective surge — Shafique's 25-place leap and Ali Usman's 58-spot jump signal a squad finally firing together. The WTC table, however, tells a starker truth: both Pakistan and West Indies remain at the bottom despite the drama.
Key Takeaways
Babar Azam climbed five places to 10th in ICC Men's Test batting rankings — his first top-10 return since September 2024 .
Abdullah Shafique surged 25 places to 32nd after an unbeaten 160 and 24 not out in the Port of Spain Test.
Ali Usman made the biggest jump of the update, rising 58 spots to 97th in Test bowling.
Sajid Khan moved up five places to 30th in Test bowling rankings.
Australia lead the WTC table with 87.50 percentage points; both Pakistan and West Indies remain at the bottom.
Rashid Khan strengthened his ODI bowling ranking after a six-wicket haul against Ireland.
Babar Azam has returned to the top 10 of the ICC Men's Test Player Rankings following Pakistan's eight-wicket victory over the West Indies in Port of Spain, with Abdullah Shafique and Sajid Khan also posting significant gains in the latest update released on 12 August.
Babar's Return to the Elite
The Pakistan captain climbed five places to 10th among Test batters after a decisive contribution to the series-levelling win. Babar scored 88 in the first innings and remained unbeaten on 24 in the chase, earning his return to the elite group for the first time since September 2024. He had previously spent five consecutive years inside the top 10, reaching a career-high second position in December 2022.
Shafique's Standout Leap
The biggest mover among Pakistan's batters was Abdullah Shafique, who was named Player of the Match after an unbeaten 160 in the first innings and 24 not out in the second. The recalled No. 3 surged 25 places to 32nd in the rankings — the most dramatic individual climb in this update for Pakistan's batting unit.
Bowling Gains for Pakistan
Off-spinner Sajid Khan moved five places to 30th in the Test bowling rankings after another influential display. Mohammad Ali climbed eight places to 85th, while left-arm spinner Ali Usman made one of the largest jumps in the entire update, rising 58 spots to 97th.
West Indies Movers and Overall Standings
West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph moved up one place to 19th after a three-wicket match haul. Brandon King, despite being unable to bat in the second innings due to a back injury, climbed to a joint 69th position following his knock of 46 off 50 deliveries. Despite the competitive series, both Pakistan and the West Indies remain at the bottom of the World Test Championship (WTC) standings. Australia lead the table with 87.50 percentage points, followed by South Africa on 75.00 and New Zealand on 72.22.
ODI Rankings and Top-Ranked Players
The latest ODI rankings also saw movement after Afghanistan's series against Ireland. Rahmanullah Gurbaz climbed three places to 11th, while Hashmatullah Shahidi rose four places to 50th. Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan further consolidated his hold on the ODI bowling rankings following consecutive Player of the Match performances, including a six-wicket haul against Ireland. Ireland's Mark Adair returned to the ODI bowling rankings at 17th. At the summit of the Test rankings, Australia's Travis Head continues to lead the batting charts, India's Jasprit Bumrah remains No. 1 among Test bowlers, and Ravindra Jadeja retains the top spot among all-rounders. Pakistan's WTC revival, while encouraging, will need sustained performances to climb out of the standings basement.
Point of View
But the more telling signal is Pakistan's depth surge — Shafique's 25-place climb and Ali Usman's 58-spot leap suggest a squad with genuine bench strength, not just captain-dependent performances. Yet rankings movement and WTC standing tell contradictory stories: Pakistan can produce individual brilliance in a bilateral series while still languishing at the bottom of the championship table. Until that structural gap closes, these ranking gains are encouraging noise rather than evidence of a sustained turnaround.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Babar Azam stand in the ICC Test rankings after the West Indies series?
Babar Azam climbed five places to 10th in the ICC Men's Test batting rankings following Pakistan's eight-wicket win in Port of Spain. It is his first return to the top 10 since September 2024, ending a roughly 11-month absence from the elite group.
Why was Abdullah Shafique named Player of the Match?
Abdullah Shafique was named Player of the Match for scoring an unbeaten 160 in the first innings and 24 not out in the second innings of the Port of Spain Test. His performance drove him 25 places higher to 32nd in the ICC Test batting rankings.
What is Pakistan's current position in the World Test Championship standings?
Despite their series-levelling win over the West Indies, Pakistan remain at the bottom of the World Test Championship table. Australia lead with 87.50 percentage points, followed by South Africa on 75.00 and New Zealand on 72.22.
Who is ranked No. 1 in ICC Test bowling and batting?
India's Jasprit Bumrah holds the No. 1 position in ICC Test bowling rankings, while Australia's Travis Head leads the Test batting charts. Ravindra Jadeja tops the all-rounders' rankings.
What movement happened in the ODI rankings after Afghanistan's series against Ireland?
Rahmanullah Gurbaz rose three places to 11th and Hashmatullah Shahidi moved up four places to 50th in ODI batting. Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan further strengthened his ODI bowling ranking after a six-wicket haul, while Ireland's Mark Adair returned to the ODI bowling rankings at 17th.
