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Babar Azam’s return to the top 10 of the ICC Men’s Test batting rankings has added another marker to his comeback as Pakistan captain, with the right-hander climbing five places to No. 10 after a productive series in the West Indies earlier this month.
Babar was handed back the Test captaincy last month, replacing Shan Masood, as Pakistan began a new phase under their former skipper. The 31-year-old scored two fifties across four innings in the West Indies, leading Pakistan to a 1-1 draw against the home team.
The start to his second spell was far from straightforward. Pakistan lost the first Test in Tarouba by 90 runs, despite Babar remaining unbeaten on 58 in the second innings. The defeat extended Pakistan’s run of consecutive Test losses away from home to eight.
But Babar and Pakistan responded in the second Test in Port of Spain. The Pakistan captain scored 88 in the first innings before remaining unbeaten on 24 in the successful run chase as Pakistan won by eight wickets to level the series 1-1. The victory also ended Pakistan’s wait of more than three years for an away Test win.
That performance has taken Babar back inside the top 10 for the first time since September 2024. He had slipped down the rankings during a prolonged lean spell in Test cricket, making his latest rise particularly significant. His return to the upper reaches of the rankings comes just as he begins another stint as Pakistan’s Test captain, with England next on the itinerary.
Abdullah Shafique was the biggest mover among Pakistan’s batters, jumping 25 places to No. 32 after an unbeaten 160 in the second Test. Sajid Khan also made notable gains, moving five places to No. 30 among Test bowlers and to No. 32 among all-rounders.
At the top of the batting rankings, Australia’s Travis Head continues to lead with 853 rating points, narrowly ahead of England’s Harry Brook on 852. Joe Root is third on 840, followed by Australia’s Steve Smith on 831 and South Africa captain Temba Bavuma on 775. Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis is sixth on 744, while India’s Shubman Gill is seventh on 743.
New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra occupies eighth place on 740, with India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal ninth on 733. Babar completes the top 10 on 716, making India the only other team besides Australia, England and Pakistan to have two representatives in the top nine.
For Babar, though, the numbers carry significance beyond the ranking itself. After returning to the Test captaincy, his immediate challenge is to turn individual consistency into a sustained revival for both himself and Pakistan’s red-ball cricket.
ICC TEST RANKINGS – BATTING AS OF AUGUST 12
1. Travis Head (Australia) – 853 points
2. Harry Brook (England) – 852 points
3. Joe Root (England) – 840 points
4. Steve Smith (Australia) – 831 points
5. Temba Bavuma (South Africa) – 775 points
6. Kamindu Mendis (Sri Lanka) – 744 points
7. Shubman Gill (India) – 743 points
8. Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand) – 740 points
9. Yashasvi Jaiswal (India) – 733 points
10. Babar Azam (Pakistan) – 716 points
– Ends
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