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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan retains its third place in international
One-Day cricket rankings despite a recent 1-4 drubbing in New
Zealand with another three teams now hot on its heels.
Similarly,
Pakistan also holds on to third position in Test arena, again
behind top-notchers Australia and South Africa, but with a
trio of teams trailing it closely.
Pakistan's rating
points slumped slightly to 107 after the One-Day series defeat
to New Zealand but it has still managed to stay in third place
behind Australia (135) and South Africa (118) on the
international One-Day table.
However, Pakistan
face stiff competition from Sri Lanka (107) and India and
England (106 each). New Zealand boasted its rating to 102
after the rubber triumph against Pakistan.
Australia and
South Africa, meanwhile, also hold top two positions on the
international Test championship with the latter side's series
victory over West Indies helping it strengthen its hold on
second place.
Pakistan has a
Test approval rating of 102 but following it virtually by a
whisker now are England (101) and India and New Zealand (100
each). The comfortable win against West Indies has boosted
South Africa's official Test rating from 111 to 113. If it can
continue this winning form in its next Test series in New
Zealand in March, it is likely to reduce the gap to leaders
Australia to single figures.
Before then,
however, South Africa will turn its attentions to the official
ODI standings where it already has a comfortable 11 point
cushion over Pakistan in third. If South Africa wins all of
the forthcoming five One-Day matches against West Indies, its
rating will increase to 121, the first time it will have
topped 120 since July this year.
A 5-0 defeat for
the home side would wipe out its advantage over the chasing
pack. This outcome would leave both South Africa and West
Indies with ratings of 111. West Indies has slipped to eighth
position in the official ODI table as a result of two defeats
in November against Zimbabwe. It goes into the series with a
rating of 101 and must win at least two of the five matches in
South Africa to overtake its nearest rival New Zealand. To
guarantee a bigger climb up the table, West Indies will have
to win the series 4-1.
The ODI
Championship table now:
Position Team
Rating
1 Australia 135
2 South Africa 118
3 Pakistan 107
4 Sri Lanka 107
5 India 106
6 England 106
7 New Zealand 102
8 West Indies 101
9 Zimbabwe 67
10 Kenya 28
11 Bangladesh 0
The official Test Championship table now:
Position Team Rating
1 Australia 125
2 South Africa 113
3 Pakistan 102
4 England 101
5 India 100
6 New Zealand 100
7 Sri Lanka 96
8 West Indies 82
9 Zimbabwe 56
10 Bangladesh 0
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