Rizwan and Babar climb one place in latest ICC Test batting rankings

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and former captain Babar Azam have each improved by one place in the latest ICC Test batting rankings, while several other Pakistan players either held their positions or saw minor movement in the updated list.

Rizwan moved up to 20th and Babar rose to 21st in the batting standings. Middle-order batters Saud Shakeel and Salman Ali Agha remained unchanged at 25th and 27th respectively. Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood dropped one place to 44th with 558 rating points, while opener Imam-ul-Haq stayed 52nd with 522 points.

Abdullah Shafique, whose most recent Test appearance came against South Africa in 2025, advanced by one spot to 54th with 517 points. Young batter Abdullah Fazal slipped one place and is now ranked 97th. At the top of the global batting table, England's Joe Root continues to hold first place, followed by Harry Brook in second, while Australia's Travis Head remains third.

Pakistan bowlers show mixed movement

In the Test bowling rankings, Pakistan spinner Noman Ali retained seventh place with 817 rating points. Fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Abbas both moved up by one spot to 25th and 27th respectively.

Spinner Sajid Khan remained 31st, while Hasan Ali is ranked 38th and Khurram Shahzad 46th. Further down the list, spinner Asif Afridi dropped two places to 83rd, while all-rounder Salman Ali Agha slipped one place to 90th.

India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah continues to lead the ICC Test bowling rankings. Australia's Mitchell Starc remains second, while Australia captain Pat Cummins has climbed to third place, moving ahead of New Zealand pacer Matt Henry.