ICC T20I rankings: Pakistan drop five places in three months

Currently sit in seventh place with 113 points after series loss to New Zealand

KARACHI: From being the second-ranked team in T20Is in November, Pakistan have slipped to seventh in less than three months following back-to-back series defeats against England and New Zealand.

In the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) T20I rankings, Pakistan sit one place behind South Africa on seventh with 113 points, while New Zealand, who registered a 2-1 series win over Pakistan by winning the third T20I by 95 runs, leapfrogged the Proteas and the Men in Green to sit on fifth position with 116 points.

The series win gave New Zealand two points, while Pakistan dropped one point.



In contrast, Bangladesh traded places with Scotland after the drawn four-match series against Zimbabwe saw them concede five points and drop to 11th position, while Zimbabwe retained their 14th spot, despite collecting four points.

With only eight points separating top-ranked West Indies from eighth-ranked India, the ICC World T20 in India is shaping up to be an open event with any of the top-ranked sides capable of lifting the trophy in Kolkata on April 3.



In the build-up to the mega event, Australia take on India in a three-match T20I series starting from January 26, South Africa clash with England in two T20Is on February 19 and 21, the Asia Cup T20 tournament kicks off from February 24, while South Africa will host Australia for three T20Is from March 4-9.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 24^th, 2016.

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