Babar Azam’s latest Test appearance at Lord’s has brought another setback, with the Pakistan batter dropping out of the top 10 in the latest ICC Test batting rankings.
Babar has fallen five places to 15th following a disappointing outing against England, scoring just 14 runs across his two innings. The decline comes only weeks after he had made his way back into the top 10 following a lengthy absence.
The 31-year-old returned to the elite group in August after spending nearly two years outside the top 10. His scores of 88 and an unbeaten 24 against the West Indies helped him climb five spots to 10th, marking his first top-10 ranking since September 2024.
However, that revival was short-lived. Babar struggled again at Lord’s as Pakistan’s batting line-up collapsed against England’s bowling attack. Pakistan were dismissed for 110 in their first innings and then bowled out for 194 while pursuing a target of 389 in the second. England secured a 194-run victory to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Babar’s latest rankings drop adds to the pressure on the experienced batter, who has not scored a Test century since December 2022. His wait for a red-ball hundred has now extended to 36 innings, increasing scrutiny over his Test form.
Abbas, Ali and Shakeel make big gains
While Babar slipped down the rankings, several Pakistan players made significant progress following their performances at Lord’s.
Mohammad Abbas was the biggest mover among Pakistan’s bowlers. His nine-wicket match haul helped him rise 10 places to joint-15th in the Test bowling rankings. Mohammad Ali also made considerable progress, climbing 11 spots to 81st after claiming five wickets.
Saud Shakeel made an even bigger leap among Pakistan’s batters. His fighting 97 in the second innings saw him move up 15 places to 18th, making him Pakistan’s second-highest-ranked Test batter behind Babar.
However, the individual ranking improvements will provide little consolation for Pakistan after two comprehensive defeats in England.
Pakistan will now travel to Birmingham for the third Test, beginning September 9, with their pride on the line. Following an innings defeat in the opening Test and a 194-run loss at Lord’s, they must produce a strong response at Edgbaston to prevent England from completing a series whitewash.
