Sri Lanka have fallen to fifth place in the ICC Men’s ODI rankings following their six-run defeat to Pakistan in the first ODI of the three-match series.
The drop comes after a remarkable rise over the past year. Sri Lanka had climbed to fourth in the world following a dominant run of home series victories against Australia, India, New Zealand, West Indies, and Bangladesh.
In early 2024, Sri Lanka were ranked ninth, having failed to qualify for the ICC Champions Trophy. However, the resurgence under new leadership and strong home performances propelled them into the top four of the global ODI standings.
Now, the team must win the remaining two ODIs against Pakistan to reclaim fourth place.
Despite their recent improvement, Sri Lanka have not won an ODI series outside home soil against a top-eight nation since 2014 — a statistic they will be eager to change in the ongoing tour. (Newswire)
