The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released the latest Test player rankings, and for the first time in months, no Pakistani batter features in the top 10. The update highlights a growing concern over Pakistan’s performance in the red-ball format.
At the top of the batters’ list, England’s Joe Root has regained the No. 1 spot, reaffirming his dominance in Test cricket. India’s Rishabh Pant climbed one place to 6th, thanks to his recent match-winning innings, while Australia’s Travis Head jumped from 13th to 10th after his consistent run in the Ashes and recent Tests.
For Pakistan, Saud Shakeel, known for his temperament and solid technique, dropped one place to 11th, narrowly missing out on the top 10. Meanwhile, Mohammad Rizwan, once a regular in the top 15, slipped three places to 19th, reflecting a dip in his recent Test performances.
In the bowling department, India’s Jasprit Bumrah continues to lead the pack, followed by Kagiso Rabada (South Africa) and Pat Cummins (Australia). Pakistan’s left-arm spinner Nauman Ali, who had broken into the top 5 earlier this year, has now fallen to 5th position, a slight setback despite impressive performances on turning tracks.
Among Test all-rounders, India’s Ravindra Jadeja remains at No. 1, thanks to his consistent contribution with both bat and ball. He is followed by teammate Ravichandran Ashwin and England’s Ben Stokes. No Pakistani all-rounder appears in the top 10, pointing to a gap in balance within the national Test squad.
The absence of Pakistani batters in the top 10 underlines the team’s batting inconsistency at the international level. With upcoming Test series on the horizon, all eyes will be on the team to bounce back and reclaim its place among cricket’s elite.