News Flash
DHAKA, May 20, 2026 (BSS)-Bangladesh rose to seventh place in the ICC Test rankings for the first time in its history after completing a 2-0 series
whitewash over Pakistan with a 78-run victory in Sylhet today.
The rise marks another milestone for the Bangladesh side led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, continuing the team's remarkable progress in red-ball cricket
over the last two years.
Bangladesh, who gained Test status in 2000 as the 10th Test-playing nation, spent much of their early years rooted at the bottom of the rankings before
gradually improving to ninth place. Their previous best ranking was eighth, achieved in 2018.
The latest triumph over Pakistan helped Bangladesh jump two spots from ninth to seventh, while Pakistan slipped from sixth to eighth. Sri Lanka moved up
to sixth despite not playing, and the West Indies cricket team dropped to ninth.
Australia retained top spot, followed by reigning Test Champion South Africa. India sit at third position while England and New Zealand are in fourth and
fifth place respectively.
Bangladesh's rise has been driven largely by their dominance over Pakistan in recent years. After sweeping Pakistan 2-0 in Rawalpindi in 2024, Bangladesh
repeated the feat at home, becoming only the second team after Australia to whitewash Pakistan in two consecutive Test series.
The Sylhet victory further brought Bangladesh's team unity to the fore.
Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam played a decisive role with a match-winning six-wicket haul, while experienced campaigners like Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton
Das contributed crucial runs throughout the series.
Bangladesh now have 1,551 rating points, comfortably ahead of Pakistan's 1,205 points in eighth place.
The success also boosted Bangladesh's standing in the ICC World Test Championship table. Although the competition still has a long way to go,
Bangladesh have climbed to fifth place, moving ahead of both England and India.
