Pakistan rose to become the No. 1 Test team in the International Cricket Council rankings for the first time ever on Monday, after the fourth Test between India and West Indies was washed out. Misbah-ul-Haq's men had recently drawn with England 2-2 in a four-Test series played in the United Kingdom. Australia, who were No. 1 at the time, then slumped to a 0-3 series defeat in Sri Lanka, following which India rose to the top, albeit provisionally, after winning the third Test against the Windies. India needed to win the fourth Test to keep their top spot.
Pakistan had risen to their previous highest ranking of No. 2 in late 2015 for the first time since the rankings were introduced in 2003. The side has not lost a Test series since August 2014, beating Sri Lanka and Bangladesh away from home during this period. Pakistan are yet to lose a Test series in the United Arab Emirates, which has been their adopted home since 2010.
Misbah told ESPNcricinfo that his side would try to emulate the the great Pakistan sides from the years gone by. He said, "There is no greater feeling than to achieve the No. 1 ranking in the most traditional and purest format of the sport. For us, the No. 1 ranking is not a destination but part of a journey. Our long-term objective and strategy is to remain competitive, continue to challenge the top sides with good cricket and once again become the most followed side like the Pakistan teams of yesteryears."
This is how the teams currently line up (ranking points in parentheses):
1. Pakistan (111)
2. India (110)
3. Australia (108)
4. England (108)
5. New Zealand (99)
6. Sri Lanka (95)
7. South Africa (92)
8. West Indies (67)
9. Bangladesh (57)
10. Zimbabwe (8)