ICC Rankings: Pakistan slips, India and Australia continue dominance
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled its annual men's team rankings update, triggering notable shifts across all three formats of the game with Pakistan slipping in rankings.
Australia continues its dominance in Tests, while India firmly holds the top spot in ODIs and T20Is. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has emerged as one of the biggest gainers across formats, riding a string of strong home performances.
Test Rankings: Australia on Top, England Rise to Second
Australia retained their No.1 position in the ICC Men's Test Team Rankings, despite a slight drop from 128 to 126 rating points. The reigning World Test Championship winners now sit 13 points clear of second-placed England, who surged ahead of India and South Africa following victories in three of their last four series.
England climbed to 113 points, now second overall.
South Africa dropped to third with 111 points.
India slipped to fourth with 105 points.
The rest of the Test top 10 remained unchanged, with New Zealand at fifth, followed by Sri Lanka, Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe.
Ireland and Afghanistan remain unranked due to insufficient Tests played.
🔹 ODI Rankings: India Extend Lead, Sri Lanka Leapfrog Rivals
Fresh off their Champions Trophy 2025 victory, India tightened their hold at the top of the ODI rankings, increasing their rating from 122 to 124.
New Zealand, runners-up at the same event, moved past Australia into second. Australia now stands third.
The biggest leap came from Sri Lanka, climbing to fourth place after ODI series wins over both India and Australia. They overtook Pakistan and South Africa, now ranked fifth and sixth respectively.
Afghanistan moved to seventh after a four-point bump.
England dropped to eighth, losing four rating points.
West Indies jumped to ninth, while Bangladesh fell to tenth.
The USA gained six points but stayed 15th. Oman overtook Canada to sit at 16th.
🔹 T20I Rankings: India Stay Top in Expanded Global List
India, the reigning T20 World Cup champions, maintained their No.1 ranking in T20Is, though their lead over second-placed Australia narrowed to nine points.
This year's update is historic—featuring 100 teams for the first time, up from 80, as more associate nations play the required eight matches over three years.
Pakistan dropped to 8 in T20I rankings, as a result of poor recent displays in New Zealand series.
England remain third, with New Zealand, West Indies, and South Africa trailing.
Sri Lanka climbed to seventh, overtaking Pakistan (eighth).
Bangladesh and Afghanistan complete the top 10.
Ireland improved to 11th, swapping places with Zimbabwe.
Notably, Canada gained nine rating points, breaking into the top 20. Bahamas and Estonia made the biggest positional gains, climbing eight and seven spots, respectively.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
Pakistan must fix defence to beat New Zealand in FIH Nations Cup final: Hassan Sardar
As Pakistan gear up to face New Zealand in the final of the FIH Hockey Nations Cup in Kuala Lumpur today, former Olympian Hassan Sardar has praised the team's attacking improvements but cautioned that defensive lapses must be addressed to clinch the title and earn promotion to the prestigious FIH Pro League. In an exclusive interview with Business Recorder, Sardar, who led Pakistan to Olympic gold in 1984 and a World Cup title in 1982, said the team showed real promise in attack, particularly with their ability to score field goals and capitalize on penalty corners. 'The positive thing is that our forward line is scoring field goals and we are converting penalty corners too,' Sardar noted. 'That's very encouraging in modern hockey.' However, he emphasised that winning the final will require defensive discipline and collective responsibility. 'Defensively, I saw many mistakes. We need to work as a unit, not just in the forward line but overall,' he said. 'When the forwards are out of the game, midfield and defense must step up. They should remain connected like a chain.' Sardar stressed that modern hockey demands an all-round approach. 'Defense and attack go hand in hand. All eleven players must support each other. That's what wins matches today.' Nations Cup final: a ticket to the elite level The Nations Cup is not just a trophy - it's a gateway. A win today will promote Pakistan to the FIH Pro League, joining global powerhouses like Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, and India. 'This is a small league, but winning it opens the door to the senior league. That's where real international hockey is played,' said Sardar. 'Pakistan has a high chance of qualifying.' Road to redemption Despite a group-stage loss to New Zealand, Pakistan have impressed with resilience and improved structure throughout the tournament. Their semi-final win was a testament to grit and growing confidence. Now, they get a chance at redemption, against the same team they previously lost to, but with silverware and Pro League promotion on the line. 'I believe this team will win' Sardar also praised the team's fighting spirit, the team had played throughout the tournament. 'I liked the performance of the Pakistan Hockey team. The matches won and lost were played well. It's a good sign that the team played well,' he said. 'Although they lost to New Zealand earlier, I believe this team will win. Their morale is high, and that's a good sign.'
Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
Pakistan must fix defense to beat New Zealand in FIH Nations Cup final: Hassan Sardar
As Pakistan gear up to face New Zealand in the final of the FIH Hockey Nations Cup in Kuala Lumpur today, former Olympian Hassan Sardar has praised the team's attacking improvements but cautioned that defensive lapses must be addressed to clinch the title and earn promotion to the prestigious FIH Pro League. In an exclusive interview with Business Recorder, Sardar, who led Pakistan to Olympic gold in 1984 and a World Cup title in 1982, said the team showed real promise in attack, particularly with their ability to score field goals and capitalize on penalty corners. 'The positive thing is that our forward line is scoring field goals and we are converting penalty corners too,' Sardar noted. 'That's very encouraging in modern hockey.' However, he emphasised that winning the final will require defensive discipline and collective responsibility. 'Defensively, I saw many mistakes. We need to work as a unit, not just in the forward line but overall,' he said. 'When the forwards are out of the game, midfield and defense must step up. They should remain connected like a chain.' Sardar stressed that modern hockey demands an all-round approach. 'Defense and attack go hand in hand. All eleven players must support each other. That's what wins matches today.' Nations Cup final: a ticket to the elite level The Nations Cup is not just a trophy - it's a gateway. A win today will promote Pakistan to the FIH Pro League, joining global powerhouses like Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, and India. 'This is a small league, but winning it opens the door to the senior league. That's where real international hockey is played,' said Sardar. 'Pakistan has a high chance of qualifying.' Road to redemption Despite a group-stage loss to New Zealand, Pakistan have impressed with resilience and improved structure throughout the tournament. Their semi-final win was a testament to grit and growing confidence. Now, they get a chance at redemption, against the same team they previously lost to, but with silverware and Pro League promotion on the line. 'I believe this team will win' Sardar also praised the team's fighting spirit. 'I liked the performance of the Pakistan Hockey team. The matches won and lost were played well. It's a good sign that the team played well,' he said. 'Although they lost to New Zealand earlier, I believe this team will win. Their morale is high, and that's a good sign.' Watch Live Pakistani fans can catch the final live at 6:00 PM PST on Tapmad.
Express Tribune
9 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Labuschagne dropped for first WI Test
Australia on Friday dropped Marnus Labuschagne for the opening match of their three-Test tour of the West Indies after a poor run of form while Steve Smith is out injured. Teenager Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis come into the starting XI for the opening match in Barbados starting on Wednesday. Labuschagne opened the batting in the World Test Championship final loss to South Africa last week but managed scores of only 17 and 22 on a challenging Lord's pitch. His last hundred for Australia in Test matches was in July 2023, against England at Manchester. Since then, Labuschagne has averaged 24.7 with the bat, in 16 matches. "Marnus at his best can be a really important member of this team," chair of selectors George Bailey said. "He understands his output hasn't been at the level we, or he, expects. "We will continue working with him on the areas of his game we feel he needs to rediscover. We continue to value his skill and expect him to work through the challenge positively." Smith injured his finger while fielding in the slips at Lord's. He left the field and did not return, watching South Africa's winning run chase from the pavilion. "Steve needs more time for the wound to heal so we'll give him another week's rest and assess his functionality after that," Bailey said. The 19-year-old Konstas will earn his third cap for Australia, and his first since January. He made a blistering debut against India in December, blasting 60 from just 65 balls opening the batting and playing a number of audacious scoop shots against Jasprit Bumrah. Konstas managed only 53 runs in his next three innings, but the teenager's raw talent has selectors excited. Inglis will also make his third appearance in Test cricket, having made 102 on debut against Sri Lanka in January. Bailey said the batting order and final team would be determined closer to the first Test.
