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

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka First Test Ends in a Draw as WTC Standings Remain Nearly Unchanged

Pakistan and Sri Lanka shared the points after their opening Test of the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle finished in a draw at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Both teams produced substantial first-innings totals, but Sri Lanka’s narrow lead and late bowling effort were not enough to force a result before the end of the fifth day.

The outcome had little impact on the WTC table. Pakistan remain ninth among the nine competing teams, while Sri Lanka hold seventh place. New Zealand are currently at the top of the standings. With a second Test still to come in the series, however, the teams have another opportunity to improve their positions—and the next result could matter to the sides clustered above them.

Pakistan’s First Innings Built on Five Half-Centuries

Pakistan entered the Rawalpindi Test with home advantage and hopes of making a strong start to the series. Recent performances on familiar pitches had helped raise expectations, but Sri Lanka’s decision to bowl after winning the toss gave the visitors an early chance to exploit the fresh surface.

The pitch offered assistance to the bowlers in the opening stages, before becoming a more challenging surface for batting as the match progressed. Pakistan nevertheless put together a competitive first-innings total of 434. Rather than relying on one dominant innings, the home side benefited from contributions across the lineup, with Tayyab Arif, Mohammad Taha, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel and Arafat Minhas all reaching half-centuries.

Shakeel came closest to turning his solid start into a landmark score, finishing just seven runs short of a century. His innings helped Pakistan maintain momentum, while the collection of fifties gave the hosts a substantial platform. At the same time, the absence of a century meant Pakistan could not stretch the total far beyond the 400-run mark.

Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis Put Sri Lanka Ahead

Sri Lanka responded with 446, edging ahead by 12 runs after a determined batting display. The innings was shaped by two centuries that shifted pressure back onto Pakistan’s bowlers: Dhananjaya de Silva scored 167 from 246 deliveries, while captain Kusal Mendis made 119 from 202 balls.

De Silva’s innings was both patient and productive. He struck 20 boundaries, finding a way to score regularly without losing his wicket as the innings developed. Mendis provided equally important support, adding ten fours and four sixes in a composed knock that kept Sri Lanka’s scoring moving.

The pair’s partnership proved central to the visitors’ reply. After Sri Lanka had lost several early wickets, their stand steadied the innings and forced Pakistan to work hard for a breakthrough. Kamindu Mendis also contributed a half-century, helping Sri Lanka turn a difficult start into a first-innings lead.

That advantage was only 12 runs, but it gave the visitors a slight edge in a match where batting conditions became increasingly demanding. The close margin also meant Pakistan had little time to build a commanding lead and put Sri Lanka under the kind of pressure needed to create a realistic chance of victory.

Late Wickets Could Not Prevent a Draw

Pakistan’s second innings offered Sri Lanka an opportunity to attack, and the visiting bowlers made the most of their chances. They claimed eight wickets before the close of play on the fifth day, keeping the contest alive until the final stages. But the remaining time was insufficient for Sri Lanka to complete a successful chase or dismiss Pakistan cheaply enough to set up a decisive finish.

The draw reflected the balance of the match: Pakistan had accumulated a strong total, Sri Lanka had answered with an even larger one, and neither side could create enough separation to control the final innings. The result may feel like a missed opportunity for the hosts, who were expected to make the most of playing at home, but Sri Lanka will take confidence from their resilience and the performances of their senior batters.

WTC Points Table: What the Result Means

A drawn Test gives the teams a share of the available championship points, so the Rawalpindi result did not produce a major change in the WTC standings. Pakistan remain at the bottom in ninth place, while Sri Lanka are seventh. New Zealand continue to lead the table, with the standings reflecting results across the early part of the 2025–27 cycle.

The points table is determined by each team’s percentage of points earned, rather than simply the total number of points accumulated. That makes every Test important, particularly for teams near the bottom of the rankings. A draw can prevent a damaging defeat, but it may not provide the same boost as a win when rivals are collecting more points from their matches.

Sri Lanka’s position also gives the upcoming second Test added significance. A victory could improve their standing and put pressure on teams above them, including England, depending on the results and points percentages across the competition. Pakistan, meanwhile, need a stronger result to begin climbing away from ninth place. Even if a defeat would not immediately change their position, another loss would make their route up the table more difficult.

Second Test Offers Both Teams a Chance to Respond

The second Test is scheduled to take place at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from November 17 to November 21. Playing at the same venue may give both sides valuable information about how the pitch behaves over five days. Pakistan will be looking to turn their batting contributions into a more decisive advantage, while Sri Lanka can build on the discipline and partnerships that carried them to a first-innings lead.

For Pakistan, the key question will be whether their batters can convert promising starts into bigger scores and give the bowlers enough runs to attack with confidence. Sri Lanka’s challenge will be to reproduce the patience shown by de Silva and Mendis while maintaining pressure with the ball. The next match could therefore hinge on early wickets, the quality of partnerships and how effectively each side adapts as the surface wears.

The first Test delivered two centuries, a series of useful half-centuries and a late push from Sri Lanka’s bowlers, but no winning margin. As the teams prepare for the rematch, the WTC prediction remains difficult: Sri Lanka have momentum from their batting performance, while Pakistan will be eager to respond on home soil. With the series still open and both teams needing points, the second Test promises a more consequential contest.