Karachi: Pakistan supplanted arch rivals India to become the world’s number one Test side yesterday for the first time since the International Cricket Council (ICC) introduced the rankings system in 2003.
A waterlogged outfield in Trinidad forced a draw in the fourth and final Test between the West Indies and India, a match the tourists had to win to hold onto top spot.
Pakistan, who play their home games in the UAE, won the fourth and final Test of their recent series in England to seal a 2-2 draw.
Pakistan are only the fifth team after Australia, England, India and South Africa to top the rankings.
The top ranking is also a personal achievement for 42-year-old Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who took charge of the team two months after the 2010 spot-fixing scandal in England which resulted in five-year bans for then skipper Salman Butt and seam bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir.
Pakistan have played in the UAE since a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009.
Misbah was delighted to become the first man to lead Pakistan to the top of the Test rankings.
“There is no greater feeling than to achieve the number-one ranking in the most traditional and purest format of the sport. This is what cricketers play for and want to achieve in their careers,” he said.
Pakistan will be presented with the ICC Test Championship mace in the next few days.