LAHORE – Pakistan have slipped to the second position on the ICC T20I team rankings as New Zealand returned to the top once again after winning the three-match series against the Windies by 2-0, the International Cricket Council said in a press release issued on Wednesday.
Blackcaps had entered the series against the Windies in third place behind Pakistan (124 points) and India (121 points) on 120 points.
New Zealand moved ahead of India after winning the first T20I by 47 runs and then leapfrogged Pakistan into the number-one position after clinching the third T20I by 119 runs. The second T20I was rained-off.
New Zealand are now on 126 points, while the Windies have dropped from 120 points to 115 points in the fifth position.
New Zealand will now put their number-one ranking on the line when they will take on Pakistan in the three-match series to be played on 22, 25 and 28 January. To retain the top spot, the Blackcaps will have to beat Pakistan by 2-1 or better. Their failure to win the series will mean Pakistan will be back at the top of the table.
ICC T20I Team Rankings:
(1) New Zealand 126 (+6)
(02) Pakistan 124
(03) India 121
(04) England 119
(05) Windies 115 (-5)
(06) South Africa 112
(07) Australia 111
(08) Sri Lanka 88
(09) Afghanistan 86
(10) Bangladesh 76
(11) Scotland 67
(12) Zimbabwe 65
(13) UAE 52
(14) Netherlands 49
(15) Hong Kong 46
(16) PNG 39
(17) Oman 38
(18) Ireland 36