KARACHI, Dec 26: Pakistan has shown slight improvement by securing the eighth spot in the annual International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) rankings for 2011 released on Monday.

Struggling to maintain its status, Pakistan, was placed ninth in the previous world rankings.

Pakistan has accumulated 104 points — 52 at the Syria world championship 2010 and another 52 at this year’s world meet held at Bangalore.

Thailand, with a tally of 188 points, leads the list which envisaged 50 nations. The Thai’s are followed by India with 182 points.

In fact, both the countries have maintained their rankings.

But Iran has shown tremendous progress — a jump of 26 places — to seize third spot with 156 points. The Iranians are tied in the third place with Ireland, who too, have same points.

They are followed by Wales, Belgium and Australia.

Two other nations which have surged are Belgium and Afghanistan. Formerly placed at 22, the former now sits in the sixth place with 113 points while the latter has leapt six places to finish ninth with 89 points.

Previously ranked third, England has slipped to 10th spot with a tally of 85 points.

Following are the top 10 rankings with points.

1-Thailand (188), 2-India (182), 3-Iran (156) and Ireland (156), 5-Wales (150), 6-Belgium (113), 7-Australia (111), 8-Pakistan (104), 9-Afghanistan (89), 10-England (85)