After having finished bottom of the pile in the first two Test Championship cycles, Bangladesh have spared themselves the ignominy in the current World Test Championship cycle, a fact confirmed following Pakistan's five-point penalty by the ICC.

Bangladesh had finished ninth among nine teams in the first two Test Championship cycles –2019-21 and 2021-23.

West Indies had finished eighth on both occasions.

The fact that Bangladesh produced some excellent results in Test cricket this cycle, including a historic 2-0 away series win in Pakistan and a 1-1 draw away to West Indies played a big part in their elevation and the demotion of both Pakistan and West Indies. Overall, Bangladesh have won four against eight losses in 12 Tests during the current cycle.

Currently, Bangladesh are in seventh position on the nine-team table with 31.25 percentage points. Pakistan are eighth with 24.31 percentage points and West Indies ninth with 24.24 percentage points. 

Bangladesh have no more matches left in this cycle (2023-25). 

Pakistan were docked five points from due to slow over rate in the second Test against South Africa, which they lost by 10 wickets last week. 

Pakistan and West Indies both have two Tests left in this cycle, against each other, starting in Pakistan later this month.

Whatever the outcome of that series – a 1-1 draw, a 2-0 win for the hosts or a 2-0 win for the visitors – Bangladesh can't be relegated below the eighth place, which means either Pakistan or West Indies will suffer the ignominy of being the worst Test side this cycle.