ICC ODI Team rankings: South Africa retain Number One spot, India climb to third place

South Africa maintained their stranglehold at the top of the ICC ODI rankings in the latest ICC ODI team rankings updated on May 1. Australia held onto its number two position with India climbing up a place in the rankings ladder to take the third spot.

Meanwhile New Zealand slipped one place to the to fourth position. Defending Champions Trophy champions India have gained five points to 2015 World Cup finalists New Zealand who picked up two points. This means India have 117 rating points as against Kiwis who have 115.

But the race for the all-important eighth place, an automatic entry into the 2019 World Cup, has Pakistan taking a strong nine point lead over West Indies.

England and the top seven ranked teams, as on September 30, 2017, will get an automatic spot in the 2019 World Cup which will be played in England.