Pak sinks to lowest-ever rating of 86 in latest ICC ranking

Despite the four-wicket consolation win in the fifth and final one-dayer yesterday, Pakistan are in serious danger of failing to qualify automatically for the World Cup 2019 as they are now eight points behind eighth-ranked West Indies. Pakistan had started the series on 87 points and this is their lowest-ever points tally since the current rankings system was introduced in 2001.

The Pakistan cricket team  also known as The Green Shirts or The Shaheens) is the national cricket team of Pakistan. Represented by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the team is a full member of the International Cricket Council, With Pakistan’s forthcoming ODI series being against the West Indies and Australia, it has left itself with a mountain to climb to keep alive its chances of qualifying automatically for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

However, Australia and England have consolidated their positions on the MRF Tyres ICC ODI Team Rankings after completing identical 4-1 series victories over their respective oppositions in the series which ended on Sunday.

Australia, who scored a five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the final match in Pallekele, has moved from 123 points to 124 points, and in doing so, has opened up an 11-point advantage over New Zealand.

They will now aim to reclaim the ICC Champions Trophy title to add to its World Cup trophy, when it is staged next year in the United Kingdom. Sri Lanka has retained its sixth position but has dropped a point to finish on 101 points.

Sri Lanka’s one-point drop will interest seventh-placed Bangladesh, which is now just three points behind its Asian rival and has two upcoming three-match ODI series each against Afghanistan and England coming up.

If Bangladesh wins all the three matches against Afghanistan, plus manages a series win against England, then it will achieve its highest-ever ranking of sixth.

Meanwhile, England, which will attempt to win its maiden 50-over ICC title when it hosts next year’s ICC Champions Trophy, has sent out a warning to the other sides after its impressive series win against Pakistan.

With Pakistan’s forthcoming ODI series against West Indies and Australia, it is difficult for Pakistan to alive their chances of qualifying for ICC Cricket World Cup.

On the other hand, Australia have been ranked on top position with 124 rating points while New Zealand stood on second slot with 113 rating points. India were placed on third spot with 110 points.

After losing five-match ODI series against England, if Pakistan want to automatically qualify for World Cup, they should improve their ODI performance with sparkling fielding specifically.  

The series result against Pakistan has seen England move from 106 points to 107 points in fifth position three behind India and South Africa, who are at 110 points each with India ranked ahead of South Africa on decimal points. England and the seven highest-ranked sides on the MRF Tyres ICC ODI Team Rankings as on 30 September 2017 will qualify directly for the ICC’s pinnacle 50-over tournament, while the remaining two sides will progress from the 10-team ICC Cricket WC Qualifier 2018.