Pakistan’s Champions Trophy berth confirmed in new ICC rankings

Published September 30, 2015
Azhar Ali's side are currently in the 8th spot in the ICC rankings just two points above the West Indies. — Reuters/File
Azhar Ali's side are currently in the 8th spot in the ICC rankings just two points above the West Indies. — Reuters/File

Pakistan's participation in the 2017 Champions Trophy was confirmed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in the new rankings released by the governing body on Wednesday.

Pakistan were locked in a three-way battle with Bangladesh and West Indies for the final spot of the Champions Trophy, but edged out the Caribbean side after an ODI series win in Sri Lanka in July.

Azhar Ali's side are currently in the 8th spot in the ICC rankings just two points above the West Indies who are placed 9th in the ODI Team Rankings on the September 30, 2015, cut-off date for qualification in the eight-nation Champions Trophy.

The eight sides to play in the short 2017 event to be hosted by England are (in rankings order): world champion Australia, title holder India, 1998 winner South Africa, 2000 champion New Zealand, 2002 co-winner Sri Lanka, host England, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Bangladesh will return to the ICC Champions Trophy for the first time since 2006.

Bangladesh has replaced the West Indies, which finished outside the top eight in ninth position and will miss participation in the Champions Trophy for the first time in the tournament's history.

The 2017 Champions Trophy will be a 15-match tournament, with teams split into two groups of four, with the top two teams in each group progressing to the semi-finals.

Courtesy ICC
Courtesy ICC

Opinion

Editorial

Punishing evaders
02 May, 2024

Punishing evaders

THE FBR’s decision to block mobile phone connections of more than half a million individuals who did not file...
Engaging Riyadh
Updated 02 May, 2024

Engaging Riyadh

It must be stressed that to pull in maximum foreign investment, a climate of domestic political stability is crucial.
Freedom to question
02 May, 2024

Freedom to question

WITH frequently suspended freedoms, increasing violence and few to speak out for the oppressed, it is unlikely that...
Wheat protests
Updated 01 May, 2024

Wheat protests

The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.
Polio drive
01 May, 2024

Polio drive

THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children ...
Workers’ struggle
Updated 01 May, 2024

Workers’ struggle

Yet the struggle to secure a living wage — and decent working conditions — for the toiling masses must continue.