Dubai: Pakistan’s cricket landscape witnessed a mix of ups and downs in the latest ICC Test Batting Rankings released on Wednesday. While Saud Shakeel made notable strides, star batters Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan experienced a significant decline.
Pakistan recently suffered a narrow two-wicket defeat in a thrilling first Test of the two-match series against South Africa, which influenced the latest rankings.
Saud Shakeel’s Impressive Climb
Saud Shakeel showcased resilience against South Africa’s fiery pace attack. Despite falling early in the first innings with a score of 14 off 6 balls, he made amends in the second innings with a commendable knock of 84 runs. This gutsy performance propelled him three places up to claim the sixth spot in the ICC Test Batting Rankings, with 764 rating points.
Babar Azam’s Struggles Continue
Babar Azam, Pakistan’s captain and a prominent figure in world cricket, dropped two spots to 17th place, accumulating 669 rating points. Although he ended his half-century drought with a crucial 50 off 85 balls in the second innings, his dismissal for just four runs in the first innings contributed to his slide in rankings.
Mohammad Rizwan’s Decline
Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan’s struggles in red-ball cricket persisted, scoring a mere 30 runs across two innings in the match. As a result, Rizwan slipped two places, landing in 21st position in the ICC Test Batting Rankings.
Bowling Rankings: Mixed Fortunes for Pakistan
Among the bowlers, spinner Noman Ali and pace sensation Shaheen Shah Afridi—who missed the first Test against South Africa—each dropped one place, now sitting at ninth and eighteenth spots respectively. However, Naseem Shah’s exceptional performance saw him climb six spots to 33rd position, courtesy of his four-wicket haul across the two innings.
Conclusion
While Saud Shakeel’s rise brings optimism for Pakistan, the decline of seasoned players like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan highlights areas for improvement. As Pakistan gears up for the second Test, fans and analysts alike will hope for a stronger performance from the team to regain momentum in the ICC rankings.
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