Pakistan’s hopes of automatic World Cup qualification toughened as they plummeted to their lowest-ever points tally of 86 after losing the five-match ODI series 1-4 against England.
Despite the four-wicket consolation win in the fifth and final one-dayer on Sunday (September 4), Pakistan are in serious danger of failing to qualify automatically for the World Cup 2019 as they are now eight points behind eighth-ranked West Indies.
Pakistan had started the series on 87 and this is their lowest-ever points tally since the current rankings system was introduced in 2001.
With Pakistan’s forthcoming ODI series being against the West Indies and Australia, they have left themselves with a mountain to climb to keep alive their chances of qualifying automatically for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.
However, Australia and England have consolidated their positions on the MRF Tyres ICC ODI team rankings after completing identical 4-1 series victories over their respective
opponents.
Australia, who scored a five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the final match in Pallekele on Sunday, have moved from 123 points to 124 points, and in doing so, opened up an 11-point advantage over New Zealand.
They will now aim to reclaim the ICC Champions Trophy title to add to their World Cup trophy, when it is staged next year in the UK.
Sri Lanka have retained sixth spot but have dropped a point to finish on 101 points.
That will interest seventh-placed Bangladesh, who are now just three points behind their Asian rival and have two three-match ODI series each against Afghanistan and England coming up.
If Bangladesh win all the three matches against Afghanistan, plus manage a series win against England, then they will achieve their highest-ever ranking of sixth.
Meanwhile, England, who will attempt to win their maiden 50-over ICC title when they host next year’s ICC Champions Trophy, have sent out a warning to the other sides after their impressive series win against Pakistan.
Their victory over Pakistan have seen England move from 106 points to 107 points in fifth position – three behind India and South Africa, who are at 110 points each with India ranked ahead of South Africa on decimal points.
England and the seven highest-ranked sides on the ICC ODI team rankings on September 30, 2017, will automatically qualify for the ICC’s pinnacle 50-over tournament, while the remaining two sides will progress from the 10-team ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018.
(Photo credit: PTI)
Kujur's transformation began when he joined the Reliance Foundation programme in December 2022