Lanka and Pakistan improved in FIFA ranking

Maldives National team, hold on to their second position

Male', MALDIVES - Neighboring Sri Lanka and Pakistan showed good increment in FIFA ranking after both sides grabbing eight and five position advancement respectively in the ranking. The result took them in to third and fourth position of SAARC region slightly below Maldives and India, who are still dominant in the region.

The major increase in points for Sri Lanka and Pakistan came as a result of their results in ongoing AFC Challenge Cup qualifying. Sri Lanka topped the qualifying round of this year’s Challenge Cup held in Chinese Taipei and will take part in the competition that will be held from July 30 – August 10 in Hyderabad, India. The winner of AFC Challenge Cup will get a direct entrance to 2011 Asian Cup.

Regional powerhouse, India still tops the list with 140 points and being world’s 154th nation.

Maldives managed to hold on to their second position with 112 points and at 159th in world ranking, but compared to March the islanders dropped six points.

Sri Lanka and Pakistan comes next with 106 and 105 points respectively.

Bangladesh dropped seven positions and 20 points and ended up at fifth. Bangladesh is now at world’s 184th and with 54 points.

Nepal, who will face Maldives India and Pakistan in the group stage of upcoming SAFF championship, is at 183rd with 45 points.

Afghanistan lies at world’s 196th and SAARC’s seventh position while Bhutan ended at the bottom.