Photo: ReutersDubai: Pakistan’s hopes of automatic World Cup qualification toughened as they plummeted to their lowest-ever rating of 86 after losing the five-match ODI series 1-4 against England. Despite the four-wicket consolation win in the fifth and final one-dayer on Sunday, Pakistan are in serious danger of failing to qualify automatically for the World Cup 2019 as they are now eight points behind eighth-ranked West Indies. With Pakistan’s forthcoming ODI series being against the West Indies and Australia, it has left itself with a mountain to climb to keep alive its chances of qualifying automatically for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. They will now aim to reclaim the ICC Champions Trophy title to add to its World Cup trophy, when it is staged next year in the UK. If Bangladesh wins all the three matches against Afghanistan, plus manages a series win against England, then it will achieve its highest-ever ranking of sixth.

Source: Mint September 05, 2016 06:45 UTC