Younis usurped by Azhar in ICC rankings

Pakistan legend Younis Khan has been usurped as his country's number one Test batsman heading into his farewell Test, after Azhar Ali overtook him on the International Cricket Council's batting rankings.

Azhar's 105 against the West Indies in the second Test in Barbados was enough to see him vault into the top 10 in the ICC's latest rankings update.

Quick Single: Windies skittle Pakistan in Barbados

Younis, who will bow out of international cricket following the three-match series in the Caribbean, has dropped out of the top 10 after scores of 58, 6, 0 and 5 in the first two Tests.

Interestingly, the right-hander's last Test before the Windies series yielded a sparkling 175 not out against Australa at the SCG, though he still dropped six spots to find himself in 14th.

Azhar now sits level with South Africa batsman Hashim Amla in eighth spot, while India opener KL Rahul has broken into the top 10.

With no other Test series active, there was no other movement in the batting rankings, with Australia captain Steve Smith remaining comfortably atop the charts on 941 ranking points.

TEST BATTING RANKINGS

India spin duo Ravi Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin remain the top-ranked Test bowlers, with Josh Hazlewood (fourth) still the leading fast bowler.

TEST BOWLING RANKINGS

With Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq to join Younis in retirement after the third Test in Dominica, Azhar is set to have greater responsibility hoisted on his shoulders at the top of Pakistan's order.

The 32-year-old is the side's current vice-captain and a strong contender to take over the reins from Misbah.

"The onus is now on the likes of Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq and Sarafraz Ahmed to step up and fill the void," Misbah wrote in his column for cricket.com.au last month. 

"When two Pakistan greats Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Yousuf left the scene, Younis and I tried to fill that gap.

"Azhar and Asad have developed in the meantime and now they are at a stage to replace us. 

"We need Azhar and Asad to now take ownership of the Test side, and with players like Babar Azam, Umar Amin, Mohammad Rizwan, Ahmed Shehzad, Usman Salahuddin, Fawad Alam among others in the ranks I am hopeful that Pakistan will remain in good shape. 

"Every team goes though transition periods and Pakistan is no different."