Babar's redemption, Windies' woe: how the WTC table shifted after Pakistan's series-levelling win

Pakistan produced a commanding, spin-led performance to defeat the West Indies by eight wickets in the second Test at Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain, levelling the two-match series 1-1 and reshaping the World Test Championship (WTC) standings in the process. The victory, their first away Test win in three years, saw Pakistan leapfrog the hosts into eighth place, leaving the West Indies rooted to the bottom of the table.

It was a hugely significant result for a Pakistan side under pressure, vindicating the reappointment of Babar Azam as captain after a chastening defeat in the opening Test.

Shafique the hero

The foundation of Pakistan's win was laid by Abdullah Shafique, who produced a superb, series-defining innings. Recalled to the side in place of the injured Shan Masood, he made the most of his opportunity with a magnificent unbeaten 160 in the first innings.

Shafique's knock, described as an escape from the wilderness, formed the centrepiece of Pakistan's reply and rightly earned him the Player of the Match award. His composure and application on a challenging surface were crucial in wresting the initiative away from the hosts.

Babar's crucial contribution

Shafique found able support in his captain, Babar Azam, who contributed a vital 88. The pair shared a commanding 183-run partnership that took the game away from the West Indies and provided the platform for victory.

Though Babar once again narrowly missed out on a three-figure score — extending his wait for a Test century — his runs across the series were invaluable, and he was named Player of the Series for his 193-run haul. His leadership and form offered timely vindication following a difficult start to his renewed captaincy tenure.

The spinners run riot

Having secured a slender but valuable first-innings lead of 43, Pakistan turned to their spinners to finish the job, and they responded emphatically. The West Indies were skittled for just 117 in their second innings, unable to cope with the turning conditions.

Off-spinner Sajid Khan was the standout, claiming four wickets in each innings to finish with eight in the match, while left-arm spinner Ali Usman, playing only his second Test, also picked up four in the second innings. Their combined mastery left Pakistan needing a modest 75 to win.

A routine chase

Despite Pakistan's well-documented struggles in fourth-innings run chases, this was one target that was never in doubt. They knocked off the runs with the loss of just two wickets, cruising to their target with little drama on the fourth morning.

The West Indies lower order had been polished off inside half an hour by Ali Usman, setting up an academic chase that Pakistan completed comfortably to seal a memorable and much-needed victory inside four days.

West Indies' near-miss

For the West Indies, the defeat was a bitter pill to swallow. Having won the first Test by 90 runs, they had the opportunity to secure their first Test series victory over Pakistan in 26 years, but were unable to close it out.

There were still individual bright spots for the hosts. Justin Greaves was named Player of the Series after an outstanding all-round campaign, contributing 111 runs and seven wickets, while Jomel Warrican cherished a hard-earned six-wicket haul of 6 for 112 in the second Test. Their efforts, however, were not enough to prevent Pakistan's fightback.

An injury blow for the hosts

The West Indies' cause was not helped by an injury to opener Brandon King. He picked up a back problem while executing a stunning run-out of Babar Azam in the first innings, an injury that prevented him from batting in the second.

Losing a key top-order batter in such circumstances was a significant setback, further hampering the hosts' hopes of holding on to their series lead on a deteriorating pitch.

The WTC table shift

The result had a direct impact on the 2025-27 World Test Championship standings. With Pakistan securing only their second win of the cycle, they moved up one spot to eighth, improving their points percentage (PCT) from 6.67 to 22.22 after six matches.

That leap took them close to England in seventh. The West Indies, meanwhile, saw their PCT fall from 22.73 to 20.83 and slipped to the bottom of the nine-team table, possessing the lowest percentage points of all sides despite having a couple of victories from their 12 matches.

The bigger picture for both sides

For Pakistan, this rare overseas success offers a genuine boost to a red-ball side that has endured a torrid run in recent times, and provides Babar with a platform to build upon as he settles back into the captaincy role.

For the West Indies, playing their last home Test of the cycle, the failure to convert a 1-0 lead into a series win will sting. Their position at the foot of the standings underscores the challenging rebuilding phase the Caribbean side continues to navigate in the longest format.

The final word

Pakistan's series-levelling triumph in Port of Spain was a performance of real character, built on Shafique's brilliance, Babar's runs and a masterful display from their spin twins. The win not only salvaged the series but also lifted them off the bottom of the WTC table at the West Indies' expense. As both sides look ahead in the cycle, this result serves as a reminder of how quickly fortunes — and standings — can shift in the unforgiving world of Test cricket.