Dubai, May 1, 2026: Pakistan national cricket team have moved up to sixth place in the latest International Cricket Council Men’s Test Team Rankings following the annual update and recalculation of results.
According to the updated standings, Australia national cricket team retained the top spot with 131 rating points, strengthening their lead by three points. Newly crowned World Test Champions South Africa national cricket team remained second with 119 points.
India national cricket team climbed to third place with 104 points, overtaking England cricket team, who slipped to fourth on 102 points.
England’s decline followed the removal of results played before April 30, 2023, from the weighted rankings calculation, including their home series victories over New Zealand and South Africa, as well as a 3-0 away clean sweep against Pakistan.
Updated ICC Men’s Test rankings
- Australia — 131
- South Africa — 119
- India — 104
- England — 102
- New Zealand — 101
- Pakistan — 89
- Sri Lanka — 86
- West Indies — 68
- Bangladesh — 67
- Ireland — 25
Pakistan benefited from the revised calculations as England’s 3-0 series win over them moved outside the full-weightage period, while Pakistan’s 2-0 defeat to Bangladesh in 2024 was reduced to half weightage.
As a result, Pakistan overtook Sri Lanka national cricket team, who dropped to seventh place with 86 points.
Meanwhile, Ireland cricket team have fallen out of the official rankings after failing to meet the minimum requirement of eight Test matches during the rating period. Ireland and Afghanistan national cricket team will each need to play at least two Tests over the next year to regain ranking status.
It is pertinent to mention that the Shan Masood-led Pakistan side will tour Bangladesh later this month for a two-match Test series as part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 cycle.
The first Test will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium from May 8 to 12, while the second Test is scheduled at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium from May 16 to 20.
Pakistan are also scheduled to play Test series later this year against England, Sri Lanka and the West Indies.
