Pakistan’s spinners have made significant strides in the latest ICC Men’s Test Bowling Rankings, following their pivotal role in a commanding 127-run victory over the West Indies in the opening Test of their two-match series in Multan.
Left-arm spinner Noman Ali climbed two spots to re-enter the top 10 Test bowlers, equaling his career-best ranking at No. 9. Noman’s match-winning performance, which included figures of 5/39 and 1/42, reinforced his position as a key player in Pakistan’s bowling attack. Meanwhile, Sajid Khan recorded a career-high 23rd place after his nine-wicket haul during the record-breaking performance (4/65 and 5/50) catapulted him five places. Sajid’s consistency and effectiveness have proven crucial, especially after his strong showing against England last October.
Meanwhile, spinner Abrar Ahmed also climbed six slots to 52nd position in the latest ICC Test rankings after taking five wickets in the match. Abrar, who has been steadily improving, now sits just six places shy of his career-best 46th ranking.
For the West Indies, left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican achieved a career milestone, jumping 12 places to 41st after securing his maiden 10-wicket haul in the match.
| Position | Team | Player | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | India | Jasprit Bumrah | 908 |
| 02 | Australia | Pat Cummins | 841 |
| 03 | South Africa | Kagiso Rabada | 837 |
| 04 | Australia | Josh Hazlewood | 835 |
| 05 | South Africa | Marco Jansen | 785 |
| 06 | New Zealand | Matt Henry | 782 |
| 07 | Australia | Nathan Lyon | 774 |
| 08 | Sri Lanka | Prabath Jayasuriya | 768 |
| 09 | Pakistan | Noman Ali | 761 |
| 10 | India | Ravindra Jadeja | 745 |
On the batting front, Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel re-entered the top 10 Test batters, moving up three spots to claim No. 8 with 753 rating points. His crucial 84-run knock in the first innings helped Pakistan secure a solid total, displacing seasoned names like Steve Smith (9th) and Rishabh Pant (10th).
Captain Shan Masood also made progress, climbing to 42nd after his second-innings half-century, while wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan moved to 17th, thanks to his valuable 71-run contribution in the first innings. Babar Azam, meanwhile, fell four spots to 16th.
| Position | Team | Player | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | England | Joe Root | 895 |
| 02 | England | Harry Brook | 876 |
| 03 | New Zealand | Kane Williamson | 867 |
| 04 | India | Yashasvi Jaiswal | 847 |
| 05 | Australia | Travis Head | 772 |
| 06 | South Africa | Temba Bavuma | 769 |
| 07 | Sri Lanka | Kamindu Mendis | 759 |
| 08 | Pakistan | Saud Shakeel | 753 |
| 09 | Australia | Steven Smith | 746 |
| 10 | India | Rishabh Pant | 739 |
Pakistan’s commanding performance in Multan has given them a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series, setting them up strongly in the ICC World Test Championship standings. The team will look to continue its momentum as they eye a clean sweep against the West Indies in the final Test.
Stay tuned for updates as Pakistan’s players push for further milestones in the ongoing series.
Get the latest sports news, match updates, and player stories wherever you prefer.
Add ProPakistani to Preferred Sources and see more of our stories in Google Search and Top Stories.