Pakistan Falls From No. 1 to No. 9 in 10 Years, Its Lowest-Ever Test Ranking

Pakistan’s Test cricket team has fallen to its lowest position in history, slipping to No. 9 in the latest ICC Test Team Rankings — a dramatic contrast to the side that stood at the top of world Test cricket a decade ago. The International Cricket Council currently lists Pakistan ninth with 71 rating points. The fall came after Pakistan suffered a 3-0 Test series whitewash against England in September 2026, allowing the West Indies to move above them into eighth place.

From World No. 1 to No. 9

The decline becomes even more striking when compared with Pakistan’s position in August 2016. On August 22, 2016, Pakistan became the world’s No. 1 Test side for the first time since the ICC’s current ranking system was introduced in 2003. Led by Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan reached the top with 111 rating points after drawing their four-Test series in England 2-2.

At the time, Pakistan were one point ahead of India and three ahead of Australia and England. Misbah’s team was later presented with the ICC Test Championship mace in recognition of the achievement. Ten years later, the picture looks completely different.

England Whitewash Pushes Pakistan Further Down

Pakistan entered the latest England tour already struggling in Test cricket, but three heavy defeats made their ranking situation worse. England won the opening Test at Headingley by an innings and 103 runs before securing a 194-run victory at Lord’s. Pakistan then lost the third Test at Edgbaston by eight wickets as England comfortably chased a target of 130 to complete the 3-0 clean sweep.

Following the series, Pakistan dropped one position to ninth while West Indies climbed above them. The result also continued a difficult run in the World Test Championship. Pakistan were sitting at the bottom of the WTC standings following the England series, with two victories from nine matches and a points percentage of 14.81 at the time of the ranking drop.

Previous Low Came in 2024

Warning signs had already appeared two years earlier. In September 2024, Pakistan fell to eighth in the ICC Test rankings after suffering a historic 2-0 home series defeat against Bangladesh. The ICC said Pakistan’s 76 rating points at that time were their lowest since 1965, excluding a brief period when they were not ranked because they had played too few matches. The latest fall to ninth means Pakistan have now gone one step lower in terms of ranking position.

Pakistan’s Red-Ball Struggles Continue

Recent Test results underline the scale of Pakistan’s problems. The defeat at Edgbaston was Pakistan’s 16th loss in their previous 21 Tests, according to an AFP report published by Dawn. The report also highlighted repeated changes in captains, coaching staff and team combinations during recent years.

Former Pakistan players have also raised concerns about planning and the development of red-ball cricket. Former leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed pointed to a lack of long-term planning, while Wasim Akram argued that the decline could not be blamed on a single individual or factor. 

Pakistan’s journey from No. 1 in August 2016 to No. 9 in September 2026 highlights how dramatically the country’s Test fortunes have changed. Pakistan still possesses talented players, but returning to the upper end of the Test rankings will require sustained results rather than short-term changes. For now, No. 9 represents an unwanted milestone: the lowest ICC Test ranking position Pakistan have held since the current rankings system began.