Pakistan move up in ICC Test rankings

Misbahul Haq’s men are now placed on the fifth position after S Africa, NZ draw

Pakistan Test team on Wednesday moved one place up in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Test team ranking courtesy South Africa-New Zealand draw in the their third five-day match at Hamilton.

South Africa (109), who gained two ranking points from the draw, jumped up to the second position in the ranking while New Zealand were slipped down, under Pakistan, on the sixth position.

Faf du Plessis-led side have bagged the $500,000 prize as their series was the last one before the April 1 cut-off date. Australia (108), who dropped to the second, after 2-1 series defeat to India and then were further pushed down to the third by the Proteas, have bagged a purse of $200,000.

Meanwhile England, who are fourth with 101 points, took $100,000 home.

Earlier on Tuesday, India beat Australia by eight runs to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-1 which helped them retain the ICC Test championship mace while pocketing $1 million as well.

It was India’s fifth consecutive Test series victory in the last 12 months. Before the Kangaroos, they had beaten the West Indies (2-0), New Zealand (3-0), England (4-0) and Bangladesh (1-0).

South Africa, meanwhile, in the same 12-month period, downed New Zealand (1-0, both home and away), Australia (2-1) and Sri Lanka (3-0).

The third-placed Australia however lost three of its series: Sri Lanka (3-0), South Africa (2-1) and India (2-1). Their only series win came against Pakistan (3-0).

The next update of the ICC Test ranking will now be carried out on May 1, 2017. The results from 2014-15 and 2015-16 series will then be weighted at 50 per cent. Meanwhile, the series results from 2013-14 will be struck off from the calculations.