India sixth in ICC ODI rankings

Australia continues its stranglehold on the rankings with 135 points followed by South Africa with 118.

India slipped two places to sixth in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) one-day international (ODI) rankings released on Sunday.

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Despite holding on to their 109-point rating in the table after a 2-2 drawn series with South Africa last month, England's performance against Pakistan and New Zealand's show against Australia in ongoing matches was the cause of the slide.

New Zealand, India and Sri Lanka are all on the same 109-point rating though the Kiwis are ranked ahead of the Indians in fifth and the Sri Lankans in sixth when the points are calculated to three decimal points.

Australia continues its stranglehold on the rankings with 135 points followed by South Africa with 118. Pakistan is in third with 114, and England fourth with 111 points.

West Indies is in eighth position with 90 points followed by Zimbabwe in ninth with 44. Bangladesh completes the list with 14 points.

The top-six positions will become highly significant over the next four months as the four sides below sixth spot as of Apr 1, 2006 will have to take part in a preliminary round of ICC Champions Trophy in 2006 to qualify for the last stage.

India, by virtue of being hosts, will automatically be in that second stage no matter where they are in the table on that date.