DUBAI: Pakistan captain Babar Azam slipped two spots to fifth in the latest ICC Men’s Test Batting Rankings, updated on Wednesday, while Saud Shakeel enjoyed a massive surge at the back of a record-breaking double century.

Pakistan’s hero with the bat amid their four-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test, Saud Shakeel got the reward of his heroics in the Galle Test as he rose 12 spots to 15th and a new career-best rating on the latest rankings for Test batters.

Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Babar Azam, who was close to reach the summit in the Test batting rankings, dropped two spots after a below-par individual performance in the aforementioned Test.

His scores of 13 and 24 resulted in him losing 27 rating points and down to the fifth spot in the rankings.

Besides the duo, All-rounder Agha Salman shot up 17 places to 58th overall for batters, while young seamer Naseem Shah (up one place to 44th) and inexperienced spinner Abrar Ahmed (up 12 spots to equal 45th) found new highs on the list for Test bowlers after excellent performances with the ball against Sri Lanka.

Notably, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, who got a fortunate push to the top of the Test batting rankings, again managed to cling to the summit with 883 rating points but the race for bragging rights and the No.1 spot for batters further intensifies.

Australia right-hander and former No.1 ranked batter Marnus Labuschagne rose three places to second overall after his century at Old Trafford, while England trio Joe Root (up three spots to third), Harry Brook (up two places to 11th) and Zak Crawley (up 13 places to 35th) also made some good ground.

After losing their first Test at home narrowly, Sri Lanka have a moment to cherish as their lethal left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya rose seven places to seventh overall on the list for bowlers following his seven wickets for the match.

READ: Saud Shakeel breaks an all-time Test record during second Sri Lanka Test