Leeds, August 21, 2026: Pakistan slipped back to the bottom of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 standings after suffering an innings and 103-run defeat to England in the opening Test of the three-match series at Headingley on Friday.
The heavy defeat left Pakistan with a winning percentage of 19.05 after two wins and five defeats from seven matches in the current WTC cycle. England, meanwhile, remained seventh despite improving their winning percentage to 29.76 following their fifth victory in 14 Tests.
Australia continue to lead the WTC standings with seven wins from nine matches, accumulating 84 points and a winning percentage of 77.78. Defending champions South Africa are second with three victories from four Tests and a percentage of 75.00, while New Zealand occupy third place with four wins, one defeat and one draw from six matches.
ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 standings
| Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | Draws | Points | Winning % |
| Australia | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 84 | 77.78 |
| South Africa | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 75.00 |
| New Zealand | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 52 | 72.22 |
| Bangladesh | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 40 | 66.67 |
| India | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 64 | 53.33 |
| Sri Lanka | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 33.33 |
| England | 14 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 50 | 29.76 |
| West Indies | 12 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 30 | 20.83 |
| Pakistan | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 16 | 19.05 |
Pakistan entered the England series after a 1-1 draw in the West Indies but endured a disastrous opening Test at Headingley.
The visitors were bowled out for 171 in their first innings, with England’s pace duo of Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue claiming five wickets each. Pakistan’s left-arm spinner Ali Usman then produced a historic five-wicket haul, but England still amassed 409, with Jordan Cox, Joe Root, Harry Brook and Dan Lawrence all contributing half-centuries.
Trailing by 238 runs, Pakistan needed a strong second-innings response to save the match but were dismissed for only 135 in 37.3 overs.
The total was Pakistan’s sixth-lowest in England since 2000, with their 72 all out at Edgbaston in 2010 remaining their lowest score in the country during the period.
The result handed England a commanding 1-0 lead in the three-Test series and further complicated Pakistan’s campaign in the current WTC cycle.
