ODI rankings: Pakistan's Champions Trophy hopes hang in balance

Published April 30, 2015
For the first time in its cricketing history, Pakistan faces the prospect of missing out on playing Champions Trophy. — AFP/File
For the first time in its cricketing history, Pakistan faces the prospect of missing out on playing Champions Trophy. — AFP/File

Pakistan, Bangladesh and West Indies are now locked in a tight struggle for the remaining two slots in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 whose cut-off date is 30 September 2015.

If Pakistan, who are currently ranked ninth on the ODI table, failed to improve their position then it would face the humiliation of not playing the Champions Trophy for the first time since its inception.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2017 will be played from 1 to 19 June in England and Wales, and the host country (England), plus the next seven highest-ranked ODI sides will participate in the event.

World Cup winner Australia has doubled its lead over second-ranked India on the Reliance ICC ODI Team Rankings from six to 12 points following the annual update.

The updated rankings now see a battle between the West Indies (seventh, 88 points), Bangladesh (eighth, 88 points) and Pakistan (ninth, 87 points).

The three sides are separated by one point and will be vying for the last two places in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, adding significant interest to their ODIs in the lead up to the cut-off date.

The latest Future Tours Program lists the following ODI series for these teams:

  • West Indies (88 points): No ODIs scheduled
  • Bangladesh (88 points): Versus India (home, 3 ODIs, June) and versus South Africa (home, 3 ODIs, July)
  • Pakistan (87 points): Versus Zimbabwe (home, 3 ODIs, May) and versus Sri Lanka (away, 5 ODIs, July)

The annual ODI update has also seen New Zealand and England head in opposite directions.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 runner-up New Zealand has made the biggest move, jumping eight points to be third-ranked ahead of South Africa.

In contrast, England has had the biggest fall as it has surrendered seven points, dropping to sixth-ranked, 12 points behind fifth-ranked Sri Lanka.

Reliance ICC ODI Team Rankings.
Reliance ICC ODI Team Rankings.

ICC

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