Resurgent England topple India Wary New Zealand weighing invite to play in Pakistan
ODI RANKINGS After two impressive away series victories, England gain eight points and overtake India as the new world No. 1 team
DUBAI: England have overtaken India to seize the top spot in the ICC ODI team rankings following the annual update.
England’s climb to the top has come after two impressive away victories — they defeated Australia 4-1 in January and beat New Zealand 3-2 in March, which helped them gain eight points and move to 125 points.
However, England’s rise is also helped by the removal of 2014-15 season from the latest calculations while those from the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons are weighted at 50 per cent.
England had a forgettable 2014-15 season which saw them winning only seven out of 25 ODIS against other Full Members. They last topped the ODI rankings in January 2013.
India, who were at the top before the update, have lost a solitary point and are in second place with a total of 122 points.
South Africa, who were second, have dropped down to third place after losing four points, from 117 to 113, leaving them nine points adrift of India and only one point ahead of fourthplaced New Zealand.
The remaining places remain unchanged, meaning that the current top-10 ranked sides are the ones who will be playing in the 2019 World Cup. However, there have been some significant changes in points.
World champions Australia have lost eight points to go down to 104 in fifth position and are only two points ahead of reigning Champions Trophy winners Pakistan, who have gained six points.
In other changes, Bangladesh (93 points) have gained three points, Sri Lanka (77) have lost seven points, the West Indies (69) have lost five points, Afghanistan (63) have gained five points, Zimbabwe (55) have gained four points and 12th-placed Ireland (38) have lost three points.
In the T20I rankings led by Pakistan, there is no change in the top seven places but Afghanistan are now ahead of Sri Lanka in eighth slot. Pakistan (130) and Australia (126) occupy the first two positions while India (123) have gained two points. New Zealand (116) are unchanged while England (115) have gained a solitary point. WELLINGTON: New Zealand is weighing up playing cricket in Pakistan for the first time in 15 years after an invitation from the south Asian nation’s cricket board.
New Zealand have not played in Pakistan since 2003 due to security concerns had been asked to play Twenty20 matches in the country later this year, governing body New Zealand Cricket said.
“NZC has received a request from the PCB chairman for New Zealand to play in Pakistan,” an NZC spokesman said.
“At the moment NZC is doing due diligence on the request and consulting with security providers, the government, and the players.
“We will respond to the PCB when this process has been completed.”
The Black Caps are scheduled to play Tests and one-day internationals against Pakistan in November at the United Arab Emirates, the country’s designated ‘home’ base. No dates have been issued for those matches but the spokesman said they would be played in the UAE.
THE CURRENT TOP10 SIDES ARE THE ONES WHO WILL BE PLAYING IN THE 2019 WORLD CUP