Pakistan’s ICC Rankings in 2025: What’s Behind the Numbers?

The International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings are the official way to measure how well international cricket teams are performing. These rankings cover all three formats of the game—Test, One Day Internationals (ODIs), and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). As of 2025, Pakistan holds a mixed position across these formats. While the team has shown strong performances in some areas, there have also been some disappointments.

This article takes a detailed look at Pakistan’s current ICC rankings, explains how the rankings work, and explores the reasons behind the team’s position in each format.

Understanding ICC Rankings: How Do They Work?

Before diving into Pakistan’s rankings, it’s important to understand how the ICC rankings system works.

Each team earns points based on wins, losses, and the strength of the opposition. These points are then used to calculate a team’s overall rating. The higher the rating, the better the team is ranked.

·       Test Rankings consider matches played over the last 3 to 4 years. More recent matches carry more weight.

·       ODI Rankings are based on matches from the last 3 years, with recent games being more valuable.

·       T20I Rankings use a similar method but focus on the fast-paced 20-over format.

Rankings change frequently, depending on team performance. Winning against a strong team gives more points, while losing to a weaker side can hurt rankings.

Pakistan's ICC Test Ranking in 2025

As of mid-2025, Pakistan's Test ranking is somewhere in the middle - hovering between 5th and 7th place.

What’s Working

·       Strong Home Performances: Pakistan has become tough to beat in home conditions. Series wins against teams like Sri Lanka and West Indies have helped maintain a decent ranking.

·       Emerging Talent: Bowlers like Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah have impressed in the Test format. Their pace and aggression have troubled many batting lineups.

·       Experienced Middle Order: Players like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have added stability to the batting lineup, often rescuing the team in tough situations.

What’s Not Working

Away Game Struggles: Pakistan’s away record has been poor. Losses in Australia, England, and South Africa have heavily affected their ranking. Playing in these tough conditions has always been a challenge for subcontinent teams.

Inconsistent Openers: The opening batsmen have not been consistent, putting pressure on the middle order in almost every series.

Lack of Big Scores: The team has often failed to score big totals. In modern Test cricket, posting scores above 400 in the first innings is important, and Pakistan has struggled to do that regularly.

Pakistan's ODI Ranking in 2025

Pakistan’s ODI ranking has slipped slightly in 2025. After a strong 2022–2023 period, things have not gone as expected.

Highs

World Cup 2023 Momentum: Pakistan reached the semi-finals of the 2023 World Cup, which gave a boost to their ODI ranking. Wins against teams like New Zealand and South Africa showed their potential.

Bowling Firepower: The pace attack led by Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, and Wasim Jr. has been one of the most feared in the world. These bowlers are capable of taking wickets even on flat pitches.

Babar Azam’s Form: Even though his captaincy is debated, Babar’s batting in ODIs has remained strong. He continues to average above 50 and anchors the innings well.

Lows

Recent Series Losses: In 2024 and early 2025, Pakistan lost ODI series against England and India. These defeats dropped them down in the rankings.

Middle-Over Struggles: The team often slows down between overs 15 to 40. This has affected their ability to post competitive totals.

Overdependence on Top Order: If Babar or Imam-ul-Haq gets out early, the rest of the batting lineup often collapses. A lack of finishers is still a concern.

While Pakistan has shown moments of brilliance in the ODI format, especially during the 2023 World Cup and with its talented bowling lineup, the decline in rankings during 2024 and 2025 is a result of several combined issues—losses against top sides, a fragile middle order, and outdated strategies. If the team wants to bounce back and climb up the ODI rankings again, it must address these concerns with a focused and modern approach.

Pakistan’s T20I Ranking in 2025

In T20Is, Pakistan has maintained a top 3 to 4 spots in the rankings. This is where they’ve shown the most consistency over the years.

Strengths

Specialist Bowlers: Pakistan’s bowling attack in T20Is is among the best. With spinners like Shadab Khan and Usama Mir and pace bowlers like Shaheen and Rauf, they often defend small totals.

Power Hitters Emerging: Players like Azam Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed have added firepower to the middle and lower order.

Match-Winning Performances: Pakistan has had many close T20 wins recently, especially against teams like Australia, Bangladesh, and New Zealand.

Weaknesses

Inconsistent Opening Pair: While Babar and Rizwan have scored a lot of runs, their strike rates are often questioned. In modern T20s, scoring quickly is more important than just staying at the crease.

Captaincy Issues: There has been some uncertainty about leadership. Frequent captain changes or debates about captaincy styles have affected team morale at times.

Lack of Finishing Touch: Even though some new hitters have come in, Pakistan still lacks a consistent finisher like a Hardik Pandya or David Miller.

Comparing with Other Teams

To understand Pakistan’s rankings better, we also need to compare them with other top teams.

India

India continues to be a top team in all formats. Their strong domestic structure, large talent pool, and experience in high-pressure games keep them at or near the top of ICC rankings.

Australia

Australia’s Test and ODI performances have been very strong. Their depth in both batting and bowling is unmatched, making them tough opponents.

England

England has focused a lot on white-ball cricket and their aggressive style has kept them among the best in ODIs and T20Is. However, their Test performance has seen ups and downs.

South Africa & New Zealand

Both these teams remain competitive. While they may not always dominate, they can beat any team on their day.

Factors Behind the Rankings

Now let’s look at what really influences Pakistan’s ICC rankings.

1. Home Advantage

Pakistan has turned their home conditions into a strength. The pitches suit their fast bowlers and spinners. However, most points in ICC rankings come from beating top teams—not just home wins.

2. Lack of Consistency

Pakistan has often been called a “mercurial team” because they can beat the best on one day and lose to the weakest the next. This inconsistency harms their ranking.

3. Team Selection

Selection policies have sometimes been unclear. Frequent changes in the playing XI, especially in ODIs and T20Is, confuse players and fans alike. Players need time to settle and perform.

4. Injuries

Frequent injuries to key players like Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan have hurt Pakistan’s chances, especially in big series.

5. Domestic Cricket Structure

While Pakistan has improved its domestic cricket in recent years, it still lags behind countries like Australia and India. A strong domestic base helps new players get ready for international cricket.

What Can Improve Pakistan’s Rankings?

If Pakistan wants to climb higher in all formats, here are a few key steps:

1. Stable Leadership

Whether it's Babar Azam or someone else, Pakistan needs to pick a captain and support them over a longer period. Frequent captaincy changes create uncertainty in the dressing room and affect player confidence. A stable leader helps build trust, clear direction, and a united team strategy.

2. Better Fitness and Injury Management

Modern cricket is fast and physically demanding, so players must maintain top fitness levels to compete. Pakistan should improve injury prevention programs, ensure proper player rest, and hire top trainers to manage workload. This will help key players stay fit and available throughout the season.

3. Invest in Young Talent

Pakistan has exciting young players like Saim Ayub, Haseebullah Khan, and Aamer Jamal who can shape the future. Giving them regular chances, mentoring them, and building their confidence is key. With proper guidance, they can become match-winners in all formats.

4. Improve Fielding

Fielding is now a game-changer, especially in white-ball cricket. Pakistan has lost several close matches due to dropped catches, missed run-outs, and sloppy ground fielding. Regular fielding drills, fitness work, and accountability can turn this weakness into a strength.

5. Tactical Innovation

Cricket is evolving, and so must Pakistan’s tactics. The team needs to use aggressive batting, smarter bowling changes, and flexible field placements based on match situations. Adapting quickly to opponents and playing fearless cricket will keep Pakistan competitive at the highest level.

Conclusion

Pakistan’s ICC rankings in 2025 show a team that is talented but not always consistent. While there are bright spots—especially in the T20 format—there are also clear areas for improvement in Tests and ODIs. With better planning, stronger leadership, and more support for young players, Pakistan has the potential to rise in all formats.

Cricket fans in Pakistan are passionate and hopeful. They want their team to not only entertain but also dominate the world stage. The rankings may go up and down, but with the right efforts, Pakistan can become a top team again—and stay there.