Dubai, August 23, 2026: Bangladesh have climbed three places to a career-best sixth in the ICC Test team rankings following their historic two-match tour of Australia, moving ahead of Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
The Tigers now occupy sixth place with 1,878 points, while Sri Lanka have dropped to seventh with 1,222 points and Pakistan remain eighth with 1,427 points.
Australia retained the top position, followed by South Africa and New Zealand, while India and England occupy fourth and fifth places respectively.
Bangladesh’s rise comes after a landmark tour of Australia in which they recorded their first Test victory on Australian soil before losing the second and final match to level the series 1-1.
Bangladesh opened the tour with a stunning nine-wicket victory over Australia in the first Test at the Marrara Stadium.
Australia were dismissed for 198 in 53 overs, with Hasan Mahmud leading the Bangladesh attack with outstanding figures of 6-55 from 17 overs. Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain claimed two wickets each.
Bangladesh responded with 426, establishing a commanding 228-run first-innings lead. Tanzid Hasan was the star with the bat, scoring 101 from 197 deliveries, including eight fours and a six.
Australia were then bowled out for 284, with Cameron Green top-scoring with 104 from 201 balls. Steve Smith contributed 44 and Marnus Labuschagne made 31.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz took 5-66 in 33.1 overs, while Hasan Mahmud added three wickets.
Chasing only 57 for victory, Bangladesh reached the target in 14.2 overs for the loss of one wicket. Mominul Haque remained unbeaten on 30, while Shadman Islam scored 25.
Australia responded strongly in the second Test at Mackay, however, defeating Bangladesh by an innings and 51 runs to level the series.
Bangladesh suffered a dramatic collapse after being sent in to bat, losing all 10 wickets for just 64 runs. Mitchell Starc destroyed the top order with a sensational 6-12, while Pat Cummins claimed three wickets.
The visitors slumped to 39-9 before Taijul Islam and Shoriful Islam added 25 runs for the final wicket. Shoriful top-scored with 14 from 19 balls, while Taijul remained unbeaten on 11.
Four Bangladesh batters were dismissed for ducks, including openers Shadman and Tanzid, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das.
Starc’s opening spell was particularly devastating, with the left-arm paceman taking five wickets from just 22 deliveries before completing his six-wicket haul for 12 runs.
Australia were also tested by Bangladesh’s bowlers but recovered to post 210, taking a 146-run first-innings lead.
Green once again led Australia’s batting, scoring 67 from 105 balls with 10 boundaries, while Smith made 42. Lyon remained unbeaten on 32.
Shoriful produced an exceptional response with the ball, claiming a career-best 7-48 from 15 overs. His figures were the best by a Bangladesh bowler in an away Test and the best by a Bangladesh fast bowler in Test cricket.
Bangladesh, however, could not recover and were dismissed for 95 in 38.3 overs. Shanto top-scored with 31 from 46 balls, while Mushfiqur Rahim remained unbeaten on 29 from 80 deliveries.
The collapse saw Bangladesh dismissed for fewer than 100 runs in both innings of a Test for the first time. It was also the first such occurrence in Test cricket in 21 years.
Starc completed a remarkable 10-wicket match haul by taking 4-39 in the second innings, while Cummins and Lyon also struck as Australia wrapped up victory inside two days.
