Babar Azam has dropped out of the ICC top 10 ODI batting rankings for the first time in 8 years. The former Pakistan captain had a long run at the top but recent form caused his ranking to fall.
A Surprising Drop in Rankings
Pakistan cricket star Babar Azam is no longer in the top 10 ICC T20 batsmen rankings. This is the first time in eight years that Babar has dropped out of the top 10. He has moved down three places, now sitting at 12th position, just ahead of his teammate Mohammad Rizwan, who is now ranked 13th.
Why Did Babar Drop?
Babar’s drop in ranking comes after a quiet spell in international T20 cricket. His last T20 international game was in January, where he scored three back-to-back half-centuries against South Africa. However, in the series against the West Indies, he failed to make an impact and was dismissed for single-digit scores in the first three innings.
In the recent Pakistan Super League (PSL), Babar scored 288 runs at an average of 36.00. He hit three half-centuries and had a strike rate of 128.57. While these are decent numbers, they were not enough to keep him in the top 10 ICC rankings, especially with other players performing better on the world stage.
Rizwan and Fakhar Also Drop
It’s not just Babar who has dropped in the rankings. Mohammad Rizwan, once ranked in the top 3, has now slipped to 13th place, just behind Babar. Another experienced player, Fakhar Zaman, has fallen 10 places, now sitting at 87th in the ICC T20 rankings. His rating has dropped to 406, showing a big dip in performance.
Missing the T20 Squad
One reason for the drop is that Babar, Rizwan, and Fakhar were all left out of Pakistan’s T20 squad for the recent series against Bangladesh. The squad was announced under new T20 captain Salman Agha, and the team performed well, even whitewashing Bangladesh 3-0.
Without regular matches and big scores, it’s difficult for players like Babar and Rizwan to maintain their high rankings. New faces are now getting chances, and it looks like Pakistan is preparing for the future, especially with the T20 World Cup approaching.
Conclusion:
After eight strong years in the top 10, Babar Azam’s fall in rankings marks a new chapter for Pakistan cricket. It will be interesting to see if he can make a comeback and return to the top, or if the next generation of players will now take center stage.
