Pakistan down to No.9 for first time in ICC ODI rankings

Dubai, Sep 6 (IANS) Pakistan have dipped to their lowest ever ranking in the International Cricket Council (ICC) One-day Internationals after a disappointing 1-4 loss to England in the recently concluded series.

Pakistan started the series on 87 points and are now on 86 points -- eight points behind eighth-ranked West Indies as the green brigade lost to England miserably.

With Pakistan's forthcoming ODI series scheduled against the West Indies and Australia, the team has left itself with a mountain to climb to keep alive its chances of qualifying automatically for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

England, being the hosts, and the seven highest-ranked sides on the ICC ODI team rankings as on September 30, 2017, will qualify directly 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.

India, meanwhile, are comfortably placed third with Australia and New Zealand holding the top two spots.