Shock loss bumps Pakistan down to 6th spot in Test rankings

E-Paper | March 18, 2026

Zimbabwe’s historic win in the second and final Test of its series against Pakistan on Saturday at the Harare Sports Club, has helped it return to the ICC Test Team Rankings for the first time since May 2007 in the ninth place.

The two-match series was drawn 1-1 with Zimbabwe finishing at 34 ratings points courtesy its 24-run win, ahead of 10th ranked Bangladesh.

Zimbabwe had entered the series unranked and irrespective of the result of the series would have finished ninth on the table.

Zimbabwe had pulled out of playing Test cricket in January 2006 and, since its return to the Test arena in August 2011 after a gap of five years, it had been unranked, having not played the requisite eight qualifying Tests to be part of the rankings table.

In sharp contrast, Pakistan has conceded five ratings points and has dropped behind Australia and West Indies. Misbah-ul-Haq’s side had only moved into fourth position last month following the conclusion of the Ashes, which England retained after defeating Australia by 3-0.

The Test Rankings table, unlike the ODI Rankings table, is updated only after the conclusion of a series.

Rank (+/-) Team Rating (+/-) 1 South Africa 135 2 England 116 3 India 116 4 (+1) Australia 101 5 (+1) West Indies 99 6 (-2) Pakistan 97 (-5) 7 Sri Lanka 88 8 New Zealand 79 9 Zimbabwe 34 10 Bangladesh 10

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pier wasif

Sep 14, 2013 06:47pm

well Pakistan it is not a shock loss, we could see it coming you have not groomed batsman in the last 10 years, Pakistani batsman cannot play swing bowling, they are pathetic anywhere they go you will see them fall like a pinball, Pakistani Fragile batting lineup can hardly win any matches if they do win some that is just because of their bowling that is also coming to an end, dumb selector pathetic PCB open your eyes & have some pride if u have any shame I hate to call myself as Pakistani cricket lover, I will stop supporting or watching Pakistani cricket I cant take it anymore.

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saad nai

Sep 14, 2013 06:48pm

Batting vulnerability has grown to its pinnacle, disgusting display of batting and bowling as well. It was better to sent A team rather than senior team Now Misbah will pay price for dismal performance, analyst will lambust on team's display.

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Samar

Sep 14, 2013 07:32pm

Glad Pakistan could be of service. We are very generous people. Any other country wishing to get into the test cricket ranking please?

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Fawad

Sep 14, 2013 09:13pm

And why was that a shock loss? I think the first match was the shock loss to Zimbabwe. They should have won the series 2-0 if it wasn't an extraordinary effort by Younis Khan. It clearly shows by just doing your basics right, you can beat any team. They read and used the conditions right while we went on and looked unprepared.

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Ali

Sep 15, 2013 02:05am

Keep what ore, current selection board, and misbah as captain Nd soon Pakistan will be switching rankings place with zimbabwe.

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Asma h

Sep 15, 2013 04:55am

@pier wasif: No need to get that desperate its just a game and new stars will emerge . Stay positive in life

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khan

Sep 15, 2013 09:38am

Can we have a national team instead of Punjab team?

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kieel

Sep 15, 2013 10:30am

@saad nai: youni and misbh were the senoir but thier perforormance was not so bad but see your rest of the team who unlearnt and inexperienced

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Shoaib

Sep 15, 2013 10:35am

Hurrah. I don

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Youth

Sep 15, 2013 01:19pm

Demise of cricket in Pakistan.......... Sethi Sahib Tusi ki kere ho. Take action or tusi bhi busy ho

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karan

Sep 15, 2013 01:51pm

Pakistan's strength has always been its bowling which is still holding good. The batting prowess has gone spiralling down. From a team having Anwar and Amir Sohail opening, Yusuf, Inzi and Younis Khan in the middle order to a batting line up that is only dependent on Misbah and now Younis for support. Misbah is a good player and has delivered regularly for Pakistan but he is at times unable to adapt to the situation quickly and by the time he does switch gears, its too late. A surprising thing is that Pakistani players are regularly subjected to some very good bowling in the nets and in practice sessions, but still there is not much of a difference in their batting. In fact its getting from bad to worse. I feel the main problem with Pakistani cricket is that there is no international cricket being played in Pakistan. Its in a way responsible for the lack of inspiration for young Pakistani lads; as if there is international cricket in Pakistan, young boys will go for games, enjoy, love it, remember it and want to be like their favourite players. But that is not happening. I hope PCB and the Pakistani government are able to come together and address the situation and satisfy ICC about the security. May be PCB should try and start with only one venue, say Lahore. May be international cricket can return ton Pakistan in a piece meal process and Pakistani cricket once again becomes the force it has always been.

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Arif

Sep 15, 2013 03:04pm

"The most talented cricketing nation" "We can beat anybody" "All teams are afraid of our bowlers" We have for a long time busy in beating our own trumpet. Time for a reality check. But I doubt it will happen. In about 3 weeks time, we are back to statements like above.

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Sandeep Singh

Sep 15, 2013 04:36pm

Pakistan lost to Zimbabwe Hilarious LOL

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Ahmer

Sep 16, 2013 07:32am

There is one word to describe it. SHAME on the Team, its Captain and Coach.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Sep 16, 2013 12:58pm

"You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet."

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IndianMafia

Sep 16, 2013 02:04pm

Being An Indian i see pakistan cricket differently.So emotions are out. Some points which can be considered. 1. Make Nasir jamshed captain of ODI team.Give him a long rope.Looks like a thinking cricketer from outside. misbah captaining for tests.hafeez/umar akmal for t-20. 2.Play hafeez more as a bowling all rounder.Just a capable replacement for abdul razzaq. 4.Play hafeez in the lower middle order in all the formats..bcoz he's a good slogger. 5.For me, Misbah should play 1 down in Tests and ODI. 6.Azar ali should be playing Tests and ODI more often than he is been doing now. 7.Make Umer akmal as a keeper for all the formats till you find a reliable keeper/batsman. And lastly give them enough back up and confidence they deserve. which is lacking in mostly all the Pakistan youngsters. and also ask some players mainly openers to play some county matches..which would give hem confidence. Thank you -An Indian.

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Mehmood

Sep 16, 2013 03:49pm

You are worried about Paki loss to Zimb why not make heading about Faisalabad Wolves , Indian authorities insulting team as well Pakistan our media still sleeping

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