LAHORE, Nov 25: Pakistan has gone up 15 places to reach the 166th position in the latest FIFA World Rankings. This was achieved after their World cup qualifiers’ away home tie with Asian champions Iraq that took place in Syria last month.

The new ranking brings Pakistan ahead of their South Asian archrivals Sri Lanka and Nepal.

Pakistan who found themselves behind Sri Lanka, India, Maldives and Nepal when they ranked 171th in the beginning of 2007, had slipped further down to 181 before taking the leap.

Only behind India and Maldives in the region now, they have outpaced Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, who join Afghanistan, Nepal and Bhutan in the bottom zone.

In the 46 members list of the Asian Football Confederation, Pakistan stands at 32.

Argentina are the current leaders in FIFA rankings.