West Indies confirm Zimbabwe ODI tri-series

St. John's: West Indies will play against hosts Zimbabwe and Pakistan in a tri-series during August-September, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) confirmed on Sunday.

The series will be a straight contest between the two visiting teams to book the eight and last Championship trophy slot. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) are yet to confirm the schedule for the series, ESPNcricinfo reported on Sunday.

The West Indies are currently eighth and Pakistan ninth in the International Cricket Council (ICC) One-Day International rankings with only a point separating them and only the top seven sides apart from hosts England will qualify for the 2017 Champions Trophy.

Bangladesh are seventh on the table and their recent triumph against India in a three-match ODI series have given them a healthy five point lead over the West Indies. They also play South Africa at home in July.

Pakistan have five ODIs against Sri Lanka in July but the Zimbabwe tri-series will be the only time the West Indies play one-day cricket before the Champions Trophy cut-off date.