Chance for Windies, Pakistan to climb to third in T20 rankings
The West Indies and Pakistan square-off in a fourmatch series starting in Bridgetown on Sunday with a chance to move up to third position in the ICC T20I team rankings.
But for that to happen, either of the two teams, who will also be playing a three ODI series next month in a bid to boost their direct qualification chances for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, will need to dominate in the T20I series.
ICC World Twenty20 champion West Indies will move up from 116 points to 123 points if they win all the matches while a 3-1 win will see them leapfrog third-placed South Africa, who are on 117 points. Pakistan could go up to 118 points and the third position from its current sixth position with a 4-0 win while a 3-1 result will lift them to fourth position with 116 points.
New Zealand currently lead the table with 127 points while India are in second position with 124 points.
In the ICC Rankings for T20I batsmen, Marlon Samuels is the top-ranked batsman from either side in 19th position while. Ranked third with 723 points , Samuel Badree is the highest ranked bowler.
WORLD CUP AND AFTER The former India captain is aiming to play for a lengthy span, subject to fitness, and stays confident
Mahendra Singh Dhoni has said his international cricket career may see him play the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2019 in England.
Few months shy of his 36th birthday, Dhoni’s first coach Keshav Banerjee had said his superstar ward will review his future after the ICC Champions Trophy in UK in June this year. But speaking at an event in Delhi on Thursday, Mahendra Singh Dhoni made it clear that he was not stopping soon, subject to his fitness.
Dhoni, who stepped down from India’s limited overs captaincy in January this year, believes with his current fitness level, he can go beyond the 2019 World Cup. Dhoni remains in Grade 1 of BCCI’s central contracts that were announced on Wednesday. When asked whether he is 100 percent likely to play in the 2019 World Cup, Dhoni replied: “There’s is nothing called 100 per cent.
“The reason being, we are in 2017, 2019 is two years (from now). A lot can change in two years, especially when you have played cricket for over 10 years and seeing India cricket team’s schedule, it is a very tough schedule.
“Uske baad aap thode vintage car ban jate hai (After that you become a vintage car). A lot of caring is needed. Sitting how I am today, yes, the way I am today, I can easily go beyond that (2019 World Cup in England).”
Dhoni led Jharkhand to the semifinal of the Vijay Hazare Trophy where his towering sixes were not enough to help his team beat Bengal, the eventual winners of the tournament.
Dhoni had scored a 70 versus Bengal. In an earlier group match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Dhoni smashed a 107-ball 129 against Chhattisgarh, reminding selectors his ability to score quick runs at the No. 6 position.
Dhoni was recently replaced by Steven Smith as captain of the IPL team Rising Pune Supergiant. But the big-hitting superstar will remain a key man in the Pune squad. His biggest immediate test in international cricket however will be the Champions Trophy in June.
There’s is nothing called 100 per cent. We are in 2017, 2019 is two years (from now). A lot can change in two years, especially when you have played for over 10 years