DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – Embattled West Indies remained struggling at number eight in the latest International Cricket Council Test team rankings released yesterday, as Pakistan surged into third on the backs of their recent 2-0 demolition of Australia.
The Caribbean side have 75 ratings points, 18 adrift of seventh place New Zealand, with a tough three-Test series away to top-ranked South Africa scheduled to begin in December.
The tour of South Africa has been plunged into the doubt after the one-day team quit the tour of India last month over a contracts row with their union, the West Indies Players Association.
Their move left a one-dayer and a Twenty20 International unplayed and also scuppered the planned three-Test series.
Since then, talks have been ongoing between the West Indies Cricket Board, WIPA, players and Prime Ministers from the regional Caribbean group, CARICOM, in an attempt to solve the dispute and salvage the South Africa tour.
With West Indies not favoured to win the series even if it goes ahead, it means their sojourn at number eight is expected to continue well into next year.
Meanwhile, Pakistan, who started the series against the Aussies in sixth spot, have overtaken England, Sri Lanka and India. They beat Australia convincingly in the series, winning the first Test by 221 runs and the second by 356 runs.
The series win was their first over Australia in 20 years and they will now take on New Zealand in a three-Test series beginning here next Sunday.
Australia, who remain second in the rankings, clash with sixth-ranked India in a four-Test series starting the first week of December.
Latest ICC Test team rankings:
1 South Africa 124
2 Australia 117
3 Pakistan 105
4 England 104
5 Sri Lanka 101
6 India 96
7 New Zealand 93
8 West Indies 75
9 Zimbabwe 39
10 Bangladesh 19
