Windies set to join Pakistan in Zimbabwe

ODI tri-series expected to be confirmed which pits teams in showdown for final Champions Trophy berth

Pakistan and Zimbabwe's limited overs series in August is expected to become a tri-series with the West Indies set to join the party as competition to qualify for the 2017 Champions Trophy hots up.

The involvement of the West Indies would essentially make the series a shoot-out between the Caribbean team and Pakistan for the eighth and final spot in the Champions Trophy, which will be hosted in England.

Pakistan are due to tour the African nation in a reciprocal arrangement with Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC), who sent a team to Pakistan in May to play two T20Is and three one-day internationals, the first Test-playing nation to tour Pakistan in six years.

However, it is understood West Indies are close to agreeing terms to make the series a three-way format. Currently the Caribbean team do not have any ODIs scheduled before September 30, the cut-off date for teams to qualify for ICC Champions Trophy 2017 in England and Wales.

"We are currently in discussions with West Indies Cricket Board," a Zimbabwe Cricket official told cricket.com.au.

"We have invited West Indies to play the tri-series but nothing is finalised yet."

West Indies' last ODI was the World Cup quarter-final defeat to New Zealand in March and their next confirmed engagement is not until October when they will tour Sri Lanka.

West Indies currently sit in eighth spot in the ICC's ODI team rankings on 88 points, with Pakistan ninth on 87 points. Pakistan will play ODI series against Sri Lanka in July and Zimbabwe in August and could leapfrog the Caribbean team if they remained idle.

Bangladesh, after their historic 2-1 ODI series victory at home against India, now have 93 points and have qualified for the eight-team tournament set to be played in the United Kingdom.

It would be the second successive year Zimbabwe had hosted a one-day tri-series, after Australia and South Africa visited last September.