ICC annual rankings reveal format-wide decline for Pakistan

India and Australia retain top spots as ICC rankings shakes up global standings; Sri Lanka and England make big gains.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled its annual men’s team rankings update, triggering notable shifts across all three formats of the game with Pakistan slipping in rankings.

Australia continues its dominance in Tests, while India firmly holds the top spot in ODIs and T20Is. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has emerged as one of the biggest gainers across formats, riding a string of strong home performances.

Test Rankings: Australia on Top, England Rise to Second

Australia retained their No.1 position in the ICC Men’s Test Team Rankings, despite a slight drop from 128 to 126 rating points. The reigning World Test Championship winners now sit 13 points clear of second-placed England, who surged ahead of India and South Africa following victories in three of their last four series.

• England climbed to 113 points, now second overall.

• South Africa dropped to third with 111 points.

• India slipped to fourth with 105 points.

The rest of the Test top 10 remained unchanged, with New Zealand at fifth, followed by Sri Lanka, Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe.

Ireland and Afghanistan remain unranked due to insufficient Tests played.

🔹 ODI Rankings: India Extend Lead, Sri Lanka Leapfrog Rivals

Fresh off their Champions Trophy 2025 victory, India tightened their hold at the top of the ODI rankings, increasing their rating from 122 to 124.

New Zealand, runners-up at the same event, moved past Australia into second. Australia now stands third.

The biggest leap came from Sri Lanka, climbing to fourth place after ODI series wins over both India and Australia. They overtook Pakistan and South Africa, now ranked fifth and sixth respectively.

• Afghanistan moved to seventh after a four-point bump.

• England dropped to eighth, losing four rating points.

• West Indies jumped to ninth, while Bangladesh fell to tenth.

The USA gained six points but stayed 15th. Oman overtook Canada to sit at 16th.

🔹 T20I Rankings: India Stay Top in Expanded Global List

India, the reigning T20 World Cup champions, maintained their No.1 ranking in T20Is, though their lead over second-placed Australia narrowed to nine points.

This year’s update is historic—featuring 100 teams for the first time, up from 80, as more associate nations play the required eight matches over three years.

Pakistan dropped to 8 in T20I rankings, as a result of poor recent displays in New Zealand series.

• England remain third, with New Zealand, West Indies, and South Africa trailing.

• Sri Lanka climbed to seventh, overtaking Pakistan (eighth).

• Bangladesh and Afghanistan complete the top 10.

• Ireland improved to 11th, swapping places with Zimbabwe.

Notably, Canada gained nine rating points, breaking into the top 20. Bahamas and Estonia made the biggest positional gains, climbing eight and seven spots, respectively.