Babar Azam Back in ICC Test Batting Top 10 After Two Years

Babar Azam has returned to the ICC Test batting top 10 for the first time in two years. The Pakistan captain jumped five places to No. 10 in the latest rankings after scoring 88 in the first innings and an unbeaten 24 in the match-winning chase against West Indies at Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain.

The update confirms what Pakistan supporters saw across the two-Test series in the Caribbean. Babar is batting with confidence again. The ranking move is the statistical proof.

ICC Test Batting Rankings — Top 10 (August 2026)

Pos	Player	Country	Rating
1	Travis Head	Australia	853
2	Harry Brook	England	852
3	Joe Root	England	840
4	Steve Smith	Australia	831
5	Temba Bavuma	South Africa	775
6	Kamindu Mendis	Sri Lanka	744
7	Shubman Gill	India	743
8	Rachin Ravindra	New Zealand	740
9	Yashasvi Jaiswal	India	733
10	Babar Azam	Pakistan	716

How Babar Got Back Here

Babar Azam is back in the top 10 Test ranking is built on the West Indies 2nd Test at Queen’s Park Oval. His 88 in the first innings was the anchor that allowed Abdullah Shafique to build his 160 not out. His unbeaten 24 in the chase, including the two decisive sixes off Jomel Warrican that sealed the win, completed a performance that earned him Player of the Series with 193 runs across both Tests.

Two years ago Babar was a top five Test batter. Inconsistent form, the weight of captaincy and a difficult run of series results pushed him out of the top 10. He lost the captaincy. He came back as captain. And now the ranking reflects what his batting looked like in Trinidad.

He is 14 runs from a Test century that has not come since 2022. The run-out on 88 in the first innings denied him that. England at Headingley on 19 August is the next opportunity.

Pakistan Ranking Movers — Full Update

The West Indies series produced multiple positive ranking movements for Pakistan.

• Abdullah Shafique made the biggest jump. He rose 25 places to No. 32 in the Test batting rankings after his Player of the Match performance of 160 not out and 24. That is a career-high ranking for Shafique and confirms his return to the Test middle order is not a short-term fix.
• Sajid Khan climbed five places to 30th in the Test bowling rankings. Eight wickets in the 2nd Test — the best bowling performance of the match from either side — drove that movement.
• Mohammad Ali rose eight places to 85th. His 4-50 in the West Indies first innings on his comeback after two years out of Test cricket earned the recognition.
• Ali Usman made the largest jump of any Pakistan bowler. He climbed 58 places to 97th in the bowling rankings after his match-winning figures in the 2nd Test second innings.

Babar Azam Heads to Headingley as a Top 10 Test Batter

Pakistan arrive at Headingley on 19 August with Babar Azam back in the world’s top 10 Test batters. That matters psychologically as much as statistically.

England’s attack of Stuart Broad’s successors on a seaming Headingley pitch will test every batter in Pakistan’s lineup. But a top 10 ranked batter who has just scored 193 runs in a series that ended 1-1 is not a batter in poor form. Babar goes to England with momentum, with confidence and with a ranking that reflects both.

The Test century he has been chasing since 2022 is more likely to arrive on a flat pitch than a green one. Lord’s and The Oval in the 2nd and 3rd Tests may suit him more than Headingley. But at No. 10 in the world he is a genuine threat at every venue.

FAQ

What is Babar Azam’s ICC Test batting ranking in 2026? Babar Azam is ranked No. 10 in the ICC Test batting rankings as of August 2026 with a rating of 716. He jumped five places after the West Indies series where he scored 88 and 24 not out in the 2nd Test at Queen’s Park Oval.

When was the last time Babar Azam was in the ICC Test top 10? Babar Azam last appeared in the ICC Test batting top 10 approximately two years before August 2026. His return follows a challenging period of form and a change in captaincy before his reappointment as Pakistan Test captain.

What is Abdullah Shafique’s ICC Test ranking after the West Indies series? Abdullah Shafique jumped 25 places to No. 32 in the ICC Test batting rankings after scoring 160 not out and 24 in the 2nd Test vs West Indies in Port of Spain.

How many places did Sajid Khan climb in ICC bowling rankings? Sajid Khan climbed five places to No. 30 in the ICC Test bowling rankings after taking 8 wickets in the 2nd Test against West Indies in Port of Spain.

Who is No. 1 in ICC Test batting rankings in August 2026? Travis Head of Australia is ranked No. 1 in the ICC Test batting rankings with a rating of 853 as of August 2026.