LAHORE: Pakistan captain Babar Azam has returned to the ICC’s top 10 Test batting rankings after nearly two years, climbing five places to No.10 as Pakistan prepares for back-to-back Test series against the West Indies and England.
Babar’s rise follows Pakistan’s recent Test series against the West Indies and provides a timely boost ahead of the team’s upcoming overseas assignments. Abdullah Shafique also made significant progress, rising 25 places to No. 32.
Among Pakistan’s other batters, Saud Shakeel dropped two places to No. 26, Mohammad Rizwan fell one spot to No. 27, Salman Ali Agha slipped six places to No. 38 and Shan Masood dropped three places to No. 39.
Australia’s Travis Head retained the No. 1 position in the Test batting rankings, followed by England’s Harry Brook and Joe Root.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has named Babar captain for the upcoming Test tours of the West Indies and England.
The PCB’s National Selection Committee announced a 16-member squad for the West Indies and a 17-member squad for England during a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Saud Shakeel was included in the England squad subject to fitness. Four players Ali Usman, Muhammad Awais Zafar, Ubaid Shah and Muhammad Ghazi Ghori are uncapped at the Test level.
Pakistan will play the West Indies in two Tests, with the first scheduled at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba from July 25-29 and the second at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain from Aug. 2-6.
The team will then travel to England for three Tests in Leeds from Aug. 19-23, Lord’s from Aug. 27-31 and Birmingham from Sept. 9-13.
Pakistan also recorded gains in the Test bowling rankings. Sajid Khan climbed five places to No. 30, while Khurram Shahzad moved up one spot to No. 51. Shaheen Shah Afridi remained Pakistan’s highest-ranked bowler at No. 28.
India’s Jasprit Bumrah retained the top spot among Test bowlers, followed by New Zealand’s Matt Henry and Australia’s Mitchell Starc.
India’s Ravindra Jadeja also remained the No. 1 Test all-rounder.
Babar’s return to the top 10 adds momentum to Pakistan’s Test campaign as the team prepares for two demanding overseas series, where his leadership and batting form will be crucial.
