Pakistan’s spin bowlers climb ICC rankings as Babar Azam slips further

Pakistan's spin bowlers have made significant strides in the latest ICC Test rankings, following their stellar performances in the first Test against the West Indies in Multan.

However, skipper Babar Azam has suffered a decline in the batting rankings, marking a mixed outcome for the national side.

Noman Ali, who delivered an exceptional six-wicket haul during the match, climbed into the top 10 of the ICC Test bowlers’ rankings. The left-arm spinner is now ranked ninth with 761 rating points, making a remarkable comeback among the elite bowlers.

Sajid Khan, named Player of the Match for his nine-wicket performance in the series opener, has also made a substantial leap. The off-spinner jumped 18 places to secure the 23rd spot with 621 points.

Meanwhile, Abrar Ahmed’s match-winning spell, which included four crucial wickets, propelled him six places to 52nd with 406 rating points.

Despite these gains, other Pakistan bowlers saw their rankings dip. Aamer Jamal dropped to 71st, while Mir Hamza and Salman Ali Agha share the 91st and 92nd spots. Senior pacer Hasan Ali slipped two places to 42nd, Naseem Shah fell to 36th, and Mohammad Abbas now sits at 25th.

Globally, India's Jasprit Bumrah continues to dominate the ICC Test bowlers' rankings, retaining the top spot, followed by Australia’s Pat Cummins and South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada in second and third, respectively.

Batting Rankings: Saud Shakeel Shines, Babar slips

On the batting front, Saud Shakeel’s brilliant 84-run knock in the Multan Test earned him a jump of three spots, bringing him to eighth place with 753 rating points. Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan also improved his standing, climbing two places to 17th.

However, c. Salman Ali Agha also fell five spots to 27th, while Shan Masood gained three positions to reach 42nd.

Other Pakistani batters, including Kamran Ghulam and Aamer Jamal, retained their rankings at 92nd, with Saim Ayub also sharing the same position.

In the ICC Test batters’ rankings, England’s Joe Root remains at the top, followed by Harry Brook in second place.

The rankings shift highlights the impact of recent performances in Multan, where Pakistan’s spin trio showcased their prowess while some senior players faced challenges. The national side will aim to build on this momentum in the second Test, starting later this week.