Pakistan drop to number six in ICC test rankings

DUBAI (Web Desk) - Pakistan has dropped to number six in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) test rankings. Pakistan was previously ranked number three.

The men in green dropped three spots despite the test series win against Bangladesh.

South Africa rank on top while Australia and New Zealand round off the top three. India is ranked fourth while England is fifth.

Following Pakistan’s 328 run victory over Bangladesh in the second Test in Mirpur on Saturday, a number of its players have made gains in the latest Reliance ICC Test Players Rankings

Earlier, Pakistan were No 3 in the rankings, but their draw in the first Test against minnows Bangladesh has seen them move down to No 6.

However, Younus Khan has moved up one place to seventh in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test Batsmen after scores of 148 and 39, while Azhar Ali has also moved up five places to 16th position after compiling 226 and 25 in the match which helped steer the visitors to a 1-0 series win.

On way to his maiden Test double-century, Azhar also passed the 3,000-run landmark (and now stands at 3,185 in 41 Tests).

For Bangladesh, Shakib Al Hasan’s scores of 89 not out and 13 have helped him move up five places to a career-high 30th.

Though the top 10 in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test Bowlers has remained unchanged, there were some big movers with Pakistan left arm opening bowler Junaid Khan moving up two places to 15th after claiming match figures of three for 71.

Yasir Shah (20th) has moved into the top 20 for the first time in his career after rising six places following match figures of seven for 131, Mohammad Hafeez has climbed five places to a career high 34th position and Wahab Riaz has gained 10 places to raise to 52nd spot.

Bangladesh’s Mohammad Shahid has vaulted 36 places to 84th after match figures of four for 95, while Shuvagata Hom has broken into the top 100 for the first time in 87th spot (up by 15 places) after claiming three for 94 runs.