Babar Azam’s Ranking Drop: What’s Behind the Numbers?
Babar Azam, who’s been almost a regular fixture among the world’s top T20 batsmen, has just fallen to ninth place in the latest ICC rankings. His current tally stands at 681 points—a dip that’s tough to miss for anyone who’s followed his career. For a player who’s represented Pakistan as captain and made the ICC Men’s T20I Team of the Year in 2024, this drop feels surprisingly abrupt.
Azam’s slip isn’t just a personal setback—it says a lot about how the whole team’s form has shifted lately. Tim Seifert from New Zealand has now jumped ahead to eighth position, clocking in at 708 points. His climb comes right after a solid performance against Pakistan, cementing himself as one of the top short-format bats in the world. Babar, meanwhile, will be looking to use this ranking slip as motivation as Pakistan gears up for the Champions Trophy.
Pakistan’s Team Ranking Falls After Series Loss
It’s not just Babar feeling the impact—Pakistan’s entire T20 lineup took a hit. After suffering a 4-1 series loss to New Zealand back in March 2025, Pakistan’s team rating has fallen to 228, dropping them to eighth overall in the ICC T20 rankings. For a side used to competing among the elite, this decline leads to some uncomfortable conversations, especially considering how the team performed just a year earlier.
The team’s drop in the rankings follows a run of inconsistent performances, with fragile middle-order showings and fewer big totals on the board. Even as names like Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma continue popping up in international headlines for aggressive batting (though their latest rankings aren’t specified), Pakistan has struggled to find support around their star opener.
Fans will remember Babar’s key role in the squad that was nominated for international honors not long ago. It’s not like Babar’s form has completely evaporated—he still stands as the cornerstone of Pakistan’s batting and will remain their go-to guy with the bat. But with tournament pressure mounting and the Champions Trophy around the corner, eyes are now on how both the team, and their long-standing star, respond.