Pakistan Players Make Major Gains in Latest ICC Test Rankings
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Abbas have made significant progress in the latest ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings following their performances against England.
At the same time, several other Pakistani players, including Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, have slipped in the latest standings released on September 2.
Saud Shakeel Climbs 15 Places
Saud Shakeel has made one of the biggest improvements among Pakistan’s batters, moving up 15 places to 18th in the Test batting rankings.
His rise follows an impressive 97-run innings in the second innings of the Lord’s Test against England. The performance has also made him Pakistan’s second-highest-ranked Test batter.
Babar Azam remains Pakistan’s highest-ranked batter despite dropping five places to 15th.
Mohammad Rizwan has fallen seven positions to 33rd, while Abdullah Shafique has moved down eight places to 35th. Shan Masood has also slipped three positions and now sits at 43rd.
England’s Harry Brook continues to occupy the top position among Test batters, with Australia’s Steve Smith second and England’s Joe Root third. Pakistan currently has no batter inside the top 10.
Mohammad Abbas Makes Strong Progress
Mohammad Abbas has recorded a major rise in the Test bowling rankings, climbing 10 places to joint-15th.
The experienced pacer took nine wickets at Lord’s, earning a significant boost in the latest rankings.
Mohammad Ali has also improved his position, moving up 11 places to 81st after taking five wickets during the match.
Noman Ali remains Pakistan’s highest-ranked Test bowler at eighth and is the country’s only bowler currently inside the top 10.
Starc Remains No. 1 Bowler
Australia’s Mitchell Starc continues to lead the ICC Test bowling rankings, while New Zealand’s Matt Henry is second and India’s Jasprit Bumrah holds third place.
England’s Ollie Robinson has also made notable progress, rising six places to a career-best fifth position. His teammate Josh Tongue moved up four places to 14th.
The latest rankings reflect the impact of recent performances and give Pakistan’s improved performers, particularly Shakeel and Abbas, a boost ahead of the team’s next Test assignment.
