Babar closes in on topping all 3 formats

Babar Azam is one step closer in his quest of becoming the No.1 batter in all three formats of the game after the Pakistan captain inched closer to the top Test ranking on the latest MRF Tyres ICC Men's Player Rankings.

While the Pakistan skipper already holds top billing in both white-ball formats, the 27-year-old is yet to reach the summit at Test level and still trails England's Joe Root following the latest rankings update released by the ICC on Wednesday.

Root remains clear at the top of the Test list, but Babar rises one spot to third overall and to a career high rating of 874 points on the back of his tremendous century in the opening Test of Pakistan's ongoing series against Sri Lanka in Galle.

Babar scored almost 55 percent of Pakistan's first-innings runs during that Test, with the right-hander contributing 119 runs to a team score of 218 that ultimately helped the side keep in touch with Sri Lanka's first innings total of 222.

Babar recently said it was a dream of his to become the No.1 ranked batter in all three formats of the game and this rankings rise sees him move that little bit closer to achieving that very difficult goal.