Pakistan jump to third place in Test rankings

Younus Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq with the stumps after Pakistan’s series triumph over Sri Lanka

Dubai, July 7: Sixth-placed Pakistan jumped three places to the third spot in Test cricket rankings after triumphing over Sri Lanka 2-1 in a three-match series.

Pakistan won the third Test against hosts Sri Lanka by seven wickets in Pallekele on Tuesday to clinch the series 2-1, which leapfrogged them to third place with 101 points, pushing New Zealand (99) to fourth, according to the International Cricket Council's (ICC) latest rankings released here on Tuesday.

Pakistan were in the sixth spot with 97 points at the start of the series, behind fourth-placed England (97) and fifth-positioned India (97) on decimal points. The series win earned Pakistan four ratings points.

India maintained the position after their rain-affected draw against Bangladesh in a one-off Test last month.

Pakistan now trail second-ranked Australia by 10 points with South Africa (130) continuing to lead the list.

Sri Lanka, in contrast, dropped four points and slipped to 92 points, but retained their seventh position.

The ICC rankings: (in order of rank, team, points)

1 South Africa 130

2 Australia 111

3 Pakistan 101

4 New Zealand 99

5 India 97

6 England 97

7 Sri Lanka 92

8 West Indies 81

9 Bangladesh 41

10 Zimbabwe 5