Pakistan has fallen to eighth place in the ICC Test Team Rankings following a devastating series loss at home against Bangladesh. This marks the Men in Green's lowest rating in Test cricket since 1965.
In a historic moment for Bangladesh, they secured their first-ever series win over Pakistan with a six-wicket victory in the second Test in Rawalpindi on Tuesday. Chasing a target of 185, the visitors reached their goal with the loss of four wickets, just 25 minutes before tea on the fifth and final day, completing a 2-0 series sweep.
The consecutive losses to Bangladesh on home soil caused Pakistan to drop two places in the rankings, moving from sixth to eighth with a total of 76 rating points. The ICC, in its statement, highlighted the surprising nature of the defeat, noting, "Pakistan dropped two places in the ICC Men’s Test Team Rankings to go to eighth position after suffering a shock series loss at home to Bangladesh."
Before the series, Pakistan was ranked sixth, but their back-to-back defeats have placed them below the West Indies, leaving them with 76 rating points. This is the lowest ranking Pakistan has held since 1965, except for a brief period when they were unranked due to playing an insufficient number of matches.