Babar Azam re-enters ICC Men’s Test top 10 after West Indies series

Babar Azam returned to the top 10 of the ICC Men’s Test batting rankings on August 12, 2026, after a productive series in the West Indies earlier this month, climbing five places to No. 10 in the updated standings.

The 31-year-old had been handed back the Pakistan Test captaincy last month, replacing Shan Masood, and produced two half-centuries across four innings as Pakistan drew the two-match series 1-1. Pakistan lost the first Test in Tarouba by 90 runs despite Babar remaining unbeaten on 58 in the second innings, a defeat that extended their run of consecutive away Test losses to eight. Babar then led the side in the second Test in Port of Spain, where his batting helped reverse the initial setback.

In Port of Spain Babar scored 88 in the first innings and was unbeaten on 24 during the successful chase, as Pakistan won by eight wickets to level the series at 1-1. That win ended Pakistan’s wait of more than three years for an away Test victory. The two-Test block produced the performances that fed into the latest rankings update.

Babar’s return to the top 10 is his first appearance there since September 2024, a recovery after he had slipped down the rankings during a prolonged lean spell in Test cricket. He climbed five places to reach No. 10 in the latest list.

Other movers for Pakistan included Abdullah Shafique, who rose 25 places to No. 32 after an unbeaten 160 in the second Test, and Sajid Khan, who gained five places to No. 30 among Test bowlers and moved to No. 32 among all-rounders.

ICC TEST RANKINGS - BATTING AS OF AUGUST 12: 1. Travis Head (Australia) - 853 points. 2. Harry Brook (England) - 852 points. 3. Joe Root (England) - 840 points. 4. Steve Smith (Australia) - 831 points. 5. Temba Bavuma (South Africa) - 775 points. 6. Kamindu Mendis (Sri Lanka) - 744 points. 7. Shubman Gill (India) - 743 points. 8. Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand) - 740 points. 9. Yashasvi Jaiswal (India) - 733 points. 10. Babar Azam (Pakistan) - 716 points.

Babar’s rise in the rankings coincides with the start of his new spell as Pakistan’s Test captain, with England named as the next opponent on the itinerary.