Shan Masood-led Pakistan side has dropped down to number eight spot in the ICC Test rankings. This low is a result of their shocking loss against Bangladesh in a two-match Test series. Before the two-match Test series against their Asian rivals, Pakistan were placed at number six spot. However, back-to-back losses against Bangladesh has resulted in Pakistan dropping down to number eight.
Owing to Pakistan’s Test series loss to Bangladesh, they have also lost some rating points, slumping to 76 points for the first-time after 1965. The time period between 1965 to 2024 doesn’t include a particular phase when they didn’t have a ranking due to insufficient matches. Talking about Pakistan’s performance in the series, they lost the first Test by 10 wickets.
In the second Test, after reducing Bangladesh to 26/6, Pakistan had the best chance to win the match and level the series. However, a half-century from Mehidy Hasan Miraz and a hundred from Litton Das helped the team to recover from this difficult situation and reduce the deficit. Bangladesh ended up winning the game by six wickets and clinched the series 2-0.
Pakistan drop down in the ICC World Test Championship points table
Pakistan’s loss against Bangladesh also had a negative impact on the former side in terms of their rankings in the WTC 2023-25 points table. They lost six points to slow-over rate punishment during the first Test. With this, Pakistan have only 16 points with a win-percentage of 19.05 after playing seven Tests. Men in Green will be seen playing against England in October, consisting of a three-match series.
They will need to pick themselves up and win their remaining games in the 2023-25 WTC cycle. Apart from the three games against England, they will play two Tests each against South Africa and West Indies in the next few months. In the first two editions of the World Test Championship, Pakistan failed to qualify for the final.