Imam-ul-Haq, Asif Afridi rise in ICC Test rankings

DUBAI: Pakistan's top-order batter Imam-ul-Haq and spinner Asif Afridi have made notable gains in the latest ICC Test rankings, while some of their teammates have seen a decline.

Imam-ul-Haq has moved up two spots to 51st with 541 rating points, while Shafique has jumped one place to 56th with 527 points. Conversely, middle-order batter Saud Shakeel has slipped from ninth to 10th with 734 points.

Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and former captain Babar Azam also dropped two places each, now ranked 22nd and 23rd, respectively.

In other changes, T20I captain Salman Ali Agha fell one spot to 28th, while Shan Masood retained his 44th position. 

Kamran Ghulam dropped to 84th, and Aamer Jamal and Saim Ayub slipped one place each to 95th and 96th, respectively.

At the top, England's Joe Root continues to lead as the number one Test batter, followed by New Zealand's Kane Williamson. Australia's Travis Head has matched Steve Smith, becoming the joint third-best batter.

In the ICC Test bowlers' rankings, Pakistan spinner Noman Ali retained his fourth position. Shaheen Afridi remains at 23rd with 632 points. 

Mohammad Abbas and Sajid Khan each dropped one place to 27th and 28th, while Abrar Ahmed held steady at 51st.

Meanwhile, pacer Aamer Jamal improved by one spot to 78th, and spinner Asif Afridi also moved up to 95th with 224 points.

India's Jasprit Bumrah leads the rankings as the top Test bowler, with Australia's Pat Cummins climbing to second, pushing teammate Mitchell Starc to third.