WTC Points Table 31 October 2026: New Zealand Top, Pakistan Ninth on 4.63% Before Sri Lanka Tests

New Zealand top the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 table on 72.22 per cent after South Africa beat Australia 2-1, the ICC said on 31 October 2026. South Africa are second on 71.43 and Australia third on 69.23. Pakistan are ninth and last on 4.63 per cent, with 2 wins from 9 Tests, before the Sri Lanka series starts on 9 November.

We read the ICC's "State of Play" review and its rankings story, both dated 31 October 2026. The top three changed places after South Africa won the last two Tests against Australia. Pakistan's position did not change, because Pakistan have not played a Test since September. Our sums below show what the Sri Lanka series can and cannot do for them.

New Zealand lead the WTC table on 72.22 per cent

New Zealand are first with 4 wins from 6 Tests and 72.22 per cent. South Africa, the defending champions, are second on 71.43 after beating Australia 2-1 at home. Australia drop to third on 69.23 per cent. The top two play the final.

The final is at The Oval in London from 9 to 13 June 2027, the ICC announced in July. Teams are ranked by points percentage, the share of available points they have won. A win is worth 12 points and a draw 4, with points taken off for slow over rates.

Pakistan are ninth on 4.63 per cent after 9 Tests

Pakistan have 2 wins from 9 Tests and 4.63 per cent. That is 5 points from a possible 108, by our sum. Their two wins earned 24 points, but slow over-rate penalties of 19 points, including 11 at Edgbaston, wiped out most of them.

The ICC's review lists Shan Masood as Pakistan's leading run-scorer this cycle with 546 runs, and Mohammad Abbas as the leading wicket-taker with 41. It also recalls the 3-0 defeat in England in August and September, after the 1-1 draw in the West Indies.

The full story of the deductions is in our earlier WTC points table for Pakistan, written from the ICC standings on 10 October. Pakistan's position has not changed since then. What changed is the order above them.

Pakistan stay ninth whatever happens against Sri Lanka

Even a 2-0 series win would lift Pakistan only to 21.97 per cent, by our sum. The West Indies cannot fall below 25 per cent, even if they lose their last Test. So Pakistan will still be ninth after the Sri Lanka series, whatever the results.

These sums assume no more over-rate penalties. Each Test is worth 12 points, so 11 Tests give a possible 132. The West Indies have 42 points from 156; if they lose to Bangladesh, they finish on 42 from 168, which is exactly 25 per cent.

Pakistan cannot reach the 2027 WTC final

Pakistan's best possible finish is 33.97 per cent, by winning all four remaining Tests. Australia and South Africa would both stay above that even if they lost every remaining Test. So Pakistan cannot finish in the top two, by our sums.

Here is the working. Pakistan have 5 points and 4 Tests left, so the most they can reach is 53 of 156. Australia have 108 points; losing all 9 remaining Tests would leave them on 108 of 264, or 40.9 per cent. South Africa have 60 points; losing all 7 would leave 60 of 168, or 35.7 per cent. Both beat 33.97.

1. Pakistan now: 5 points from 108, which is 4.63 per cent.
2. Best case after four more wins: 53 points from 156, which is 33.97 per cent.
3. Australia's worst case: 40.9 per cent.
4. South Africa's worst case: 35.7 per cent.
5. Two teams are certain to finish above Pakistan's best, so the final is out of reach.

Sri Lanka's position is different. They are seventh on 33.33 per cent with six Tests left, including the two in Pakistan. A 2-0 win in Pakistan would take them to 50 per cent, by our sum.

The Sri Lanka Tests still matter for Pakistan

The final is gone, but the series is still worth points and pride. Pakistan play Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi from 9 to 13 November and at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, from 17 to 21 November. Pakistan have just beaten Sri Lanka in the ODI tri-series final.

Sri Lanka Cricket confirms the series starts on 9 November in Rawalpindi. Pakistan named a 14-player squad under Babar Azam on 24 October, as listed in our report on the Pakistan Test squad. A 2-0 win would be Pakistan's best WTC series result of this cycle. Pakistan's latest ODI win is in our tri-series final result.

Common questions

Who is top of the WTC points table?

New Zealand, on 72.22 per cent with 4 wins from 6 Tests, according to the ICC on 31 October 2026.

Where is Pakistan in the WTC points table?

Ninth and last, on 4.63 per cent with 2 wins from 9 Tests.

Can Pakistan qualify for the WTC final 2027?

No. By our sums, Pakistan's best possible 33.97 per cent is below the worst case for both Australia and South Africa.

Will Pakistan move up if they beat Sri Lanka 2-0?

Not past ninth during the series. A 2-0 win gives 21.97 per cent, and the West Indies cannot drop below 25.

When and where is the WTC final 2027?

At The Oval in London, from 9 to 13 June 2027, the ICC said.

How many points is a Test win worth?

12 points for a win and 4 for a draw. Teams are ranked by the percentage of available points they win.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked 1 November 2026. The table, played, won, percentages, series left and Pakistan's leading players come from the ICC's State of Play review of 31 October 2026. The final's venue and dates come from the ICC announcement of 23 July 2026. The points values come from the ICC standings page as recorded on 10 October. Every scenario, point total and worst case is our own arithmetic and assumes no further over-rate deductions for any team.