Pakistan handed opportunity to re-claim top-spot in ICC rankings

A few months after being dethroned as the world number one Test side, Pakistan once again has yet again come into the reckoning to become the world’s top-ranked side in the official ICC ratings for teams and associates.

A Pakistani-based statistician has gone on to predict the possible outcomes of the different margins of a Pakistani win the series. Should the Pakistanis claim a 2-0 win in the series, they would got to 110 points with New Zealand securing 89 points in their rating.

Should Pakistan win 1-0, they would lose out on two rating points and also drop down to third place. Many are indeed speculating the same given the fact that New Zealand has not beaten the Asian giants since the 1984/85 season in a full-scale Test series.

However, in spite of all this, Kane Williamson and his band of merry men will be looking to utilize the best era of ‘home advantage’ to finally secure a series win and end the hoodoo against Misbah-ul-Haq. Also, the fact that they would be highly motivated is also an added incentive, to say the least.

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The New Zealand selection panel has taken a few drastic measures in recent times by dropping the likes of Martin Guptill and Ish Sodhi following a few weak performances against the Indians most recently. Jeet Raval and Todd Astle are now a part of the New Zealand setup.

The first Test is set to begin at Christchurch on the 17th of November despite the earthquake.

NZ wins 1-0: Pak 104 points; NZ 95 points,
NZ wins 2-0: Pak 102 points; NZ 96 points,
1-1 or 0-0 draw: Pak 107 points ; NZ 93 points.
2/3

— Shahzad Tirmizi Syed (@shahzadtirmizi) November 16, 2016

#NZvPAK test series effects on team #rankings:
Pak wins 2-0: Pak 112 points; NZ 89 points,
Pak wins 1-0: Pak 110 points; NZ 90 points. 1/3

— Shahzad Tirmizi Syed (@shahzadtirmizi) November 16, 2016