Babar Azam Reclaims Test Ranking Top Ten After Two Years Without Century

Babar Azam has returned to the top 10 of the ICC Men’s Test batting rankings after a gap of nearly two years, following his strong performance in Pakistan’s recently concluded two-Test series against the West Indies. The Pakistan batter accumulated 193 runs in the series, helping his team recover from defeat in the opening Test and secure a series draw. His latest rankings boost comes despite his prolonged wait for another Test century. Babar scored 88 in the first innings of the second Test and remained unbeaten on 24 during Pakistan’s successful chase.

The performances helped him climb five places to No. 10 in the latest ICC Test batting rankings released on Wednesday. His return to the top 10 marks a significant improvement after he slipped out of the elite group in September 2024, having spent the preceding three years among the world’s leading Test batters. The 31-year-old’s rise has come at a time when his Test batting form has been closely scrutinised. Despite his latest improvement, Babar has not scored a century in the format for almost three years. His most recent Test hundred came against New Zealand in December 2022.

His career-best ranking remains No. 2, which he achieved during Pakistan’s home series against England in December 2022. Babar’s return to the top 10 also coincides with his comeback to Pakistan’s Test captaincy. While Pakistan lost the opening Test against the West Indies, the team bounced back in the second match with an eight-wicket victory, resulting in a 1-1 series draw. Babar’s contributions in the second Test proved important as Pakistan successfully chased the target and avoided losing the two-match series. The latest rankings update also provided a boost to other Pakistan players.

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The ICC said Pakistan’s Test stars made significant gains following the West Indies series, with Abdullah Shafique and Sajid Khan among those moving up the rankings.  The improvement comes as Pakistan prepares for its upcoming Test assignments, giving the team encouragement after the series in the Caribbean. For Babar, the return to the top 10 represents a step towards regaining the ranking position he occupied for much of his peak Test career. His five-place rise has come without a century, underlining the value of his recent contributions in a short series.

However, the extended gap since his last Test hundred remains a notable aspect of his current record and will continue to be closely watched as Pakistan’s Test campaign progresses. Babar’s immediate challenge will be to build on his latest performances and convert starts into bigger scores. His return to the ICC top 10 provides a positive marker after a period of decline in the rankings, while the absence of a Test century since 2022 remains an unresolved part of his recent form. The latest update nevertheless gives the Pakistan batter renewed momentum as he looks to reclaim a position closer to the top of the Test batting rankings.

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