Pakistan on Tigers' trail

Pakistan will begin their five-match ODI series against Australia in Brisbane tomorrow with the prospects of going level with Bangladesh in the ICC ODI Rankings and boosting their hopes of securing direct qualification into the 2019 ICC World Cup in England.

Pakistan are currently in eight position with 89 points, two points behind Bangladesh and two ahead of the West Indies.

Hosts England and the seven highest-ranked sides on 30 September 2017 will qualify directly for the tournament.

To at least maintain its pre-series ranking points, Pakistan will need to win at least one match, while victories in more than one match will earn them crucial points, according to the ICC.

If Pakistan win two matches, they will join Bangladesh on 91 points but will be ranked behind their Asian rivals by a fraction. In the scenario of Pakistan winning the series, they will move ahead of Bangladesh and will bolster their chances of qualifying directly for the event it won in Australia in 1992.