DUBAI: Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan suffered significant drops, while middle-order batter Saud Shakeel emerged as the biggest mover in the latest ICC Test batting rankings released on Wednesday.
The changes came after Pakistan endured a heavy 194-run defeat against England in the second Test of the ongoing three-match series, handing the hosts an unassailable 2-0 lead.
Babar endured a difficult outing at Lord’s, managing only 14 runs across his two innings. His struggles saw him fall five places to 15th in the latest Test batting rankings.
Rizwan also endured a disappointing Test, scoring just eight runs across both innings. The wicketkeeper-batter, who was sent back to Pakistan along with six other players following the second Test, dropped seven places and now sits 33rd in the rankings.
Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel
Abdullah Shafique also suffered a notable decline, slipping eight places to 35th, while former captain Shan Masood dropped three spots and is now ranked 43rd.
Saud, meanwhile, was the only Pakistan batter to make significant progress in the latest rankings. The left-hander produced a crucial knock of 97 in Pakistan’s second innings at Lord’s, helping him climb 15 places to 18th in the ICC Test batting rankings.
In the bowling rankings, veteran pacer Mohammad Abbas was Pakistan’s biggest beneficiary after an impressive performance at Lord’s.
Abbas claimed nine wickets in the second Test, including a five-wicket haul in England’s second innings, and was rewarded with a 10-place rise to 16th in the latest ICC Test bowling rankings.