Pakistan’s Cricket Team Plummets to Historic Low in ICC Test Rankings
Pakistan’s cricket team has plummeted to its lowest ranking in over half a century, falling to eighth place in the ICC Test rankings after a humiliating series loss to Bangladesh. This marks the first time Pakistan has ever lost a Test series to Bangladesh.
The two-match series, held in Rawalpindi, saw Pakistan suffer a crushing 10-wicket defeat in the first Test and a 6-wicket loss in the second. The defeats have resulted in Pakistan dropping two places in the rankings, below West Indies, and accumulating a mere 76 rating points.
This is the lowest rating Pakistan has held since 1965, excluding a brief period when they were not ranked due to an insufficient number of matches. Bangladesh’s successful chase of 185 in the second Test was the third-highest by any visiting team in Pakistan.
Despite their impressive performance, Bangladesh did not receive a significant boost in the rankings, remaining in ninth place. However, the series victory has solidified their position in the World Test Championship cycle 2023-25, where they now rank fourth behind India, Australia, and New Zealand.
Bangladesh’s success in the series has earned them 13 rating points, bringing their total to 33. They will now shift their focus to a two-Test series against India, commencing on September 19 in Chennai.
In the World Test Championship, teams are ranked based on the percentage of points they win. A victory earns 12 points, a draw earns 4 points, and a tie earns 6 points.