Pakistan have dethroned arch-rivals India from the second spot in the latest MRF Tyres ICC ODI rankings released on Thursday.

The Babar Azam-led unit achieved the feat after clinching the five-match series against New Zealand 4-1 in Karachi.

Australia have retained their No.1 spot in the rankings after the annual update but face strong competition ahead with Pakistan and India.

The Aussies have gained five points to reach 118, maintaining a slender lead over Pakistan (116 points) and India (115 points).

Pakistan could have stayed at the top of the rankings even after the annual update had they managed to complete a 5-0 clean sweep against New Zealand.

Prior to the annual update, Australia were leading the chart with 113 points with India behind them on the decimal count. Pakistan had 112 points and briefly went to the top of the charts after their victory in the fourth ODI against the Blackcaps.

New Zealand have now slipped in the fourth with 104, meanwhile, world champions England are at fifth with 101 points.

South Africa (ranked sixth) and Bangladesh (ranked seventh) maintain their spots after the annual update. But there is a big movement below them as Afghanistan make a massive jump to climb up to the eighth spot, overtaking Sri Lanka and West Indies.