Shan Masood and Najmul Hossain Shanto
Pakistan Cricket Team Suffers Major Drop in ICC Test Rankings
In a dramatic turn of events, the Pakistan cricket team has taken a hard hit in the ICC Test rankings. After a startling 0-2 series loss to Bangladesh on home turf, Pakistan has plummeted to the eighth position. The last day of the second Test in Rawalpindi saw Pakistan lose by six wickets, following a demoralizing defeat by 10 wickets in the first Test.
This significant drop means Pakistan has now fallen below the West Indies in the latest ICC Test rankings. Before the Bangladesh series, Pakistan was sitting comfortably in sixth place. But now, they find themselves struggling at the eighth spot, holding just 76 rating points—their lowest since 1965.
Sri Lanka and West Indies On the Rise
While Pakistan’s fall from grace is a story of despair for its fans, it’s good news for Sri Lanka and the West Indies. Both teams have climbed up the rankings to take sixth and seventh place, respectively.
Sri Lanka, despite losing both of their Test matches against England in a three-match series, have still managed to ascend. As for the West Indies, they now stand just one rank above Pakistan, buoyed by Pakistan’s recent failures.
Bangladesh’s Historic Victory
Bangladesh remains in the ninth position with 66 rating points, but their series win against Pakistan is nothing short of historic. This series victory is a landmark achievement in Bangladesh’s cricket history and has filled the team with newfound confidence. They now set their sights on their next challenge, an away series against second-placed India.
The recent performance will undoubtedly serve as a morale booster for the Bangladesh team as they prepare to face a formidable opponent.
Updated ICC Test Rankings
The latest ICC Test rankings reveal the shifting landscape of international cricket. Here is the updated table:
- Australia – 124 Rating Points
- India – 120 Rating Points
- England – 108 Rating Points
- South Africa – 104 Rating Points
- New Zealand – 96 Rating Points
- Sri Lanka – 83 Rating Points
- West Indies – 77 Rating Points
- Pakistan – 76 Rating Points
- Bangladesh – 66 Rating Points
- Ireland – 26 Rating Points
World Test Championship Update
At the same time, the World Test Championship (WTC) has seen some changes. Bangladesh has climbed to the fourth spot with a PCT (Percentage of Points) of 45.83, outranking England at the moment.
On the flip side, Pakistan is languishing at the eighth spot with a PCT of 19.05. This poor performance stems from losing five out of the seven Test matches they’ve played in this WTC cycle. Pakistan’s recent home record is nothing to write home about either; they haven’t won a Test match at home since 2021.
Their next big test will be against England at home. The last time England toured Pakistan, they won 3-0, and the upcoming series will be crucial for Pakistan to improve their standing both in the ICC Test rankings and the World Test Championship.
Conclusion
The cricket world is abuzz with Pakistan’s dramatic fall in the ICC Test rankings and Bangladesh’s remarkable victory. These shifts highlight how unpredictable and competitive international cricket can be. While Pakistan has a lot of soul-searching to do, teams like Sri Lanka, West Indies, and Bangladesh have reasons to celebrate and look forward to their upcoming matches with renewed energy and hope.
