Pakistan slips to fifth position in ICC Test rankings

Pakistan has slipped two places to the fifth position on the ICC Test Team Rankings after a 3-0 defeat to Australia which culminated with a 220-run defeat at the SCG on Saturday.

The Misbah-ul-Haq-led side lost five points to finish with 97 points after the series, just one point ahead of New Zealand and Sri Lanka. It was the sixth consecutive Test loss for Pakistan including a 2-0 loss to New Zealand in a preceding series.

Pakistan, which had led the rankings last year following a 2-2 draw in England during a four-match series in July-August, was tied with South Africa on 102 points before the Australia series but was ahead on decimal points. South Africa and England (101) are now both ahead of Pakistan.

Australia has consolidated its second position, gaining four points and moving up to 109 points, 11 points behind India. But South Africa could bridge the gap as it looks set to gain more points when the rankings are updated after its ongoing three-Test series against Sri Lanka which it leads 2-0.

South Africa could go up to 107 points with a 3-0 win and to 105 points if it wins 2-0. Even if Sri Lanka wins the last Test in Johannesburg next week, South Africa will gain two points to reach 104 points with a 2-1 series result.

Also read – AUS v PAK, 3rd Test Review: O’Keefe and Lyon spin Australia to clean sweep in Sydney

South Africa will play third and the final Test of the series at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg starting from January 12.

Upcoming Test match fixtures:

South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 3^rd Test – 12^th January to 16^th January

New Zealand vs Bangladesh, 1^st Test – 12^th January to 16^th January

New Zealand vs Bangladesh, 2^nd Test – 20^th January to 24^th January

ICC Test Team Rankings (as on 7 January 2017, after the Australia v Pakistan series)

Rank  Team              Points

1          India                120

2          Australia         109 (+4)

3          South Africa    102

4          England           101

5          Pakistan           97 (-5)

6          New Zealand   96

7          Sri Lanka         96

8          West Indies     69

9          Bangladesh     65

10        Zimbabwe       05