ICC Test Rankings: Pakistan tumble to ninth spot, hit 59-year low after series loss to Bangladesh

Shan Masood-led Pakistan lost the second and final Test versus Bangladesh, in Rawalpindi, on the fifth and final day on Tuesday (Sep 3) to lose the two-match series 2-0. Following the embarrassing whitewash on home soil, Pakistan have slipped to the ninth spot in the latest ICC Test Rankings. As a result, Pakistan's rating point has dropped to 76 points, their lowest in Test cricket since 1965.

Notably,Pakistan never had rating points below76, excepta brief period where the Asian giants didn't playsufficient Teststo accumulate rating points, according to the ICC.

ICC TEST RANKINGS (AS OF SEPTEMBER 4, 2024)

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1. Australia - 124 points
2. India - 120 points
3. England - 108 points
4. South Africa - 104 points
5. New Zealand - 96 points
6. Sri Lanka - 83 points
7. West Indies - 77 points
8. Pakistan - 76 points
9. Bangladesh - 66 points
10. Ireland - 26 points
11. Zimbabwe - 4 points
12. Afghanistan - 0 points

Talking about the second and final Test, Bangladesh came into this match with a 1-0 lead after winning the series opener by 10 wickets. The Bangla Tigersopted to bowl and dismissed the hosts for 274, with Mehedi Hasan claiminga five-fer. In response, Bangladesh were 26 for 6 before Litton Das' masterclass (138) and Mehedi's 78 took their side to 262, conceding a slender 12-run lead. Just likethe first Test,Pakistan fell flatin their second inningsandgot bundled out for 172 with Hasan Mahmud accounting for 5 for 43.

In the 185-run chase, Najmul Shanto-led Bangladeshcruised towards the target without dropping much sweat, with opener Zakir Hasan topping scoring with 40.

After the shocking home series loss, Masood said at the post-match conference, "I am not worried for my job security. I took this job to make the changes we believe will help this team. If I believe this team can go in a certain direction, even if my personal failure takes Pakistan in that direction, I will be content. However much time I get I'll be grateful for and do my best."

He added, "We have to respect the opposition and Bangladesh's discipline was superior to ours in both Tests. We have to look at ourselves and the kinds of mistakes we made this series, and we made plenty. Test cricket, in terms of fitness, whether mental or physical, lasts for four or five days. What we've shown this series is that's something we need to work on."