By our correspondent
KARACHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released its latest update to the men’s Test and One-Day International (ODI) rankings, revealing subtle shifts in team standings as the cricketing world gears up for a busy season. Australia continues to lead the Test rankings with 126 rating points, though its margin at the top has slightly narrowed, dropping from 15 to 13 points. England has leapfrogged both South Africa and India to claim the second spot with 113 points, marking a significant boost for Ben Stokes’ side as they prepare for upcoming series.
South Africa now sits in third, while India has slipped to fourth place in the Test format. New Zealand holds on to fifth, with Sri Lanka in sixth. Pakistan has dropped to seventh—a concerning decline for the team as they continue to seek stability in the red-ball format. The West Indies, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe round out the bottom three, ranked eighth, ninth, and tenth respectively.
In the ODI rankings, India remains firmly at the top with 124 points, extending their lead as the most consistent team in the 50-over format. New Zealand has climbed to second, nudging Australia down to third. Sri Lanka has secured the fourth position, while Pakistan stands fifth, edging out South Africa, who are now sixth.
The rankings come at a crucial time as teams prepare for the upcoming international calendar, including the ICC Champions Trophy next year and several high-stakes bilateral series. For teams like Pakistan and South Africa, the latest rankings serve as a wake-up call, while India and Australia continue to consolidate their dominance across formats.
