WTC points table after Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st Test, 2026

WTC points table after Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st Test, 2026

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st Test Ends in a Draw as WTC Standings Remain Largely Unchanged

Pakistan and Sri Lanka shared the points after their opening Test of the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) series finished in a draw at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Despite centuries, several half-centuries and a late push from Sri Lanka’s bowlers, neither side could force a result before the end of the fifth day.

The outcome had little impact on the WTC table. Pakistan remain ninth among the competition’s nine teams, while Sri Lanka hold seventh place. New Zealand are currently at the top of the standings. With the series still alive, the second Test offers both sides another opportunity to improve their position and build momentum in the championship cycle.

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka: A Hard-Fought Draw in Rawalpindi

Pakistan entered the first Test with home advantage and strong expectations. The team had produced encouraging performances on familiar pitches against South Africa and England, and supporters hoped the Rawalpindi match would provide another opportunity to collect valuable WTC points.

Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis won the toss and chose to bowl first. The surface offered the visitors a chance to make early inroads, but Pakistan’s batters settled in and assembled a substantial first-innings total. As the match progressed, scoring became more demanding, and the contest increasingly depended on patience and the ability to build long partnerships.

Pakistan Build a Competitive First-Innings Total

Pakistan made 434 in their first innings, with contributions spread across the batting order. Tayyab Arif, Mohammad Taha, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel and Arafat Minhas each scored half-centuries, giving the hosts a strong platform without one batter converting a start into a hundred.

Shakeel came closest to a landmark, falling just seven runs short of a century. His innings helped steady Pakistan after the early exchanges and kept the scoreboard moving. The five half-centuries reflected a collective effort, although Pakistan may look back on the innings as an opportunity to push beyond 450 and apply greater pressure on Sri Lanka.

Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis Put Sri Lanka Ahead

Sri Lanka responded with 446, edging ahead by 12 runs. Their reply was anchored by two centuries that turned a competitive match into a finely balanced one. Dhananjaya de Silva led the way with 167 from 246 deliveries, striking 20 fours and providing the innings with both stability and attacking intent.

Kusal Mendis added 119 from 202 balls, including 10 fours and four sixes. His partnership with de Silva helped shift the pressure onto Pakistan’s bowlers and gave the visitors control during a crucial phase of the innings. Kamindu Mendis also contributed a half-century, strengthening Sri Lanka’s position after they had lost several important wickets early.

The visitors’ 12-run advantage was modest, but it mattered in a match where time and scoring opportunities were limited. Sri Lanka had done enough to avoid falling behind, while Pakistan were left with the challenge of setting a target quickly enough to give their bowlers a realistic chance of taking 10 wickets.

Late Wickets Not Enough to Produce a Result

Pakistan’s second innings did not create the sizeable lead required to put Sri Lanka under serious fourth-innings pressure. The visitors’ bowlers remained disciplined, taking eight wickets before the match ended on the fifth day. Their late breakthroughs kept the contest alive, but there was not enough time remaining to complete a chase or dismiss Pakistan.

The draw was a fair reflection of a match in which both teams had periods of control. Pakistan posted a solid first-innings score, Sri Lanka replied with a narrow lead, and the visitors then made inroads with the ball. Ultimately, the balance between batting contributions and the limited time available prevented either side from securing victory.

WTC Points Table: Pakistan Stay Ninth, Sri Lanka Remain Seventh

Following the Rawalpindi Test, the ICC shared an updated WTC points table through its official social media channels. Pakistan remain in ninth place, while Sri Lanka continue in seventh. New Zealand lead the nine-team standings at this stage of the championship.

A drawn Test provides a different points outcome from a win or loss, so the result offered neither side the major boost that a victory would have delivered. For Pakistan, the immediate priority is to turn home conditions into a series win and begin moving away from the bottom of the table. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will see the draw as a useful platform but will need a strong performance in the next match to improve their position.

The standings are still developing, and a single result can matter more as the WTC cycle progresses. Sri Lanka’s next performance could also affect the teams around them. If the visitors win the second Test, they could move above England and rise to sixth, depending on the table’s points calculation at that stage. Pakistan, already ninth, would remain at the bottom if they lose, making a positive result particularly important for their campaign.

Second Test Prediction: What to Watch in Rawalpindi

The second Test is scheduled to take place at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from November 17 to November 21. Since the teams will return to the same venue, conditions and lessons from the first match could play a significant role. Batting discipline, the management of long partnerships and the ability to take wickets before a new batter settles may prove decisive.

Pakistan will want more of their top-order batters to turn promising starts into substantial scores, while Sri Lanka can take confidence from the resilience shown by de Silva and both Mendis batters. The hosts will also need to find a way to create a larger lead if they are to give their bowlers sufficient time to win the match.

Any prediction for the second Test should account for how closely matched the teams appeared in the opener. Sri Lanka demonstrated that they can handle Pakistan’s attack, while the hosts have the advantage of familiarity with the ground. If Pakistan improve their conversion of starts and strike early with the ball, they could be well placed to take the series. But Sri Lanka’s batting depth and effective late bowling make another competitive contest a strong possibility.

With WTC points at stake and the series still undecided, the next match carries greater importance than the first. Pakistan need a result to strengthen their campaign, while Sri Lanka have a chance to climb the table. After five days of closely fought cricket, the Rawalpindi decider promises another test of patience, skill and execution.

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