Port of Spain: Pakistan captain Babar Azam has made a long-awaited return to the ICC Men’s Test Batting Rankings Top 10, climbing five places to 10th after his match-winning performance against West Indies in Port of Spain.
The 31-year-old scored 88 in the first innings and an unbeaten 24 in the second as Pakistan wrapped up an eight-wicket win on day 4 to level the 2-match ICC World Test Championship series 1-1.
It ends a two-year wait for Babar to feature among the world’s top 10 Test batters. He had slipped out of the top 10 in September 2024 after spending the previous five years there uninterrupted.
His career-best ranking remains No.2, which he reached during Pakistan’s home series against England in December 2022.
Babar’s return comes at a crucial time for Pakistan, as the win also lifted them above West Indies into eighth place on the WTC standings.
Shafique also jumps big
Fellow opener Abdullah Shafique, named Player of the Match for his unbeaten 160 and 24, was the biggest mover. He surged 25 spots to 32nd, overtaking the likes of Marnus Labuschagne, K.L. Rahul, Salman Ali Agha and Shan Masood.
Pakistan will now shift focus to their upcoming three-match Test series in England, starting at Headingley on August 19.
