Pakistan slip, Sri Lanka rise in rankings

Pakistan's fall from grace has continued after only recently rising to the summit of the International Cricket Council Test rankings, slumping to seventh spot after their 2-0 series defeat to Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

Sarfraz Ahmed's side, who won the Champions Trophy one-day international tournament in June, were leapfrogged by their opponents Sri Lanka after their 68-run victory in Dubai.

The result sees Sri Lanka rise to sixth while Pakistan has gone below them after losing five ranking points.

Sri Lanka, who gained four ranking points after the series win, are now just three points behind fifth-placed Australia.

Sarfraz admitted he was disappointed with how Pakistan played across the two-Test series, having lost the series-opener by 21 runs in Abu Dhabi.

"We came close in both matches, but we haven't played good cricket and that's why we have lost the series," the wicketkeeper-captain said.

"I think we did not play good cricket. Sri Lanka played much better cricket than us and we were let down by batting because we didn’t play big innings and that is what cost us.

"I got to learn a lot as captain. We made many mistakes in the series but this was my first series as captain and it was pretty tough and will allow us to learn."

Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal praised the fighting spirit of his side, having barely two months ago been routed 3-0 at home by world number one Test team India.

But Chandimal said his players and management switched gears both on and off the field.

"We are over the moon," said Chandimal who won his first series as captain.

"Those were tough times for everyone but we learn a lot of things from that India series as a team and as individuals.

"The main thing is our attitude and it makes lot of difference so everyone put their heart and soul in the practices, so when they come to the match they did well."