Pakistan's return tour to Zimbabwe is likely to become the battleground for a 2017 Champions Trophy spot after the hosts invited the West Indies for a limited overs tri-series involving the respective teams.

The Champions Trophy will be played from June 1-19 in England and Wales, and the host country (England), plus the next seven highest-ranked ODI sides will participate in the event.

Pakistan, Bangladesh and West Indies were locked in a tight struggle for the remaining two slots in the tournament whose cut-off date is 30 September 2015.

But Bangladesh's 2-1 series win over India put them five behind sixth-ranked England and five ahead of eighth-ranked West Indies, the move up in rankings guaranteeing them a spot in the Champions Trophy.

Now Zimbabwe Cricket's offer to the West Indies, who have no scheduled series until the cut-off date, has added an interesting twist to the qualification drama.

West Indies currently sit at the eighth spot in the ICC's ODI team rankings with 88 points. Pakistan are ninth on 87 points.

Pakistan's prospects of leapfrogging the West Indies are bright because they will play an ODI series against Sri Lanka in July and Zimbabwe in August. Barring a disastrous result in both the series, Azhar Ali's side could yet make it to the Champions Trophy.

The West Indies, who need the matches to steer clear of Pakistan, will decline Zimbabwe's invitation at their own peril.

“We are currently in discussions with West Indies Cricket Board,” a Zimbabwe Cricket official told cricket.com.au.

“We have invited West Indies to play the tri-series but nothing is finalised yet.”

According to sources, the West Indian board is close to agreeing to the terms for the tri-series.

ICC ODI Rankings