Virat Kohli-led team India is ICC’s number one side in Tests and One Day Internationals and the quest for the same in the T20I format is Indian captain’s next goal. Indian cricket team that is hosting New Zealand in their own backyard recently won the ODI series 2-1. Now the two teams lock horns in a 3-match T20I series, starting November 1. The Kiwis are number one in this format and India is at the fifth spot. But things could change and change soon. India could actually help Pakistan in the race to the top. Yes, that is possible as Pakistan is at the second spot just a solitary point away from the Kiwis. Pakistan’s have been in red-hot form with 12 victories in the 14 games.
They have climbed to the second spot after their recent success where they whitewashed Sri Lanka in Dubai.
So here is how Pakistan can pip New Zealand to the numero uno spot in the ICC ratings.
India needs to lose all their three games to New Zealand for this to happen. Just in the same way as Pakistan did to Sri Lanka. If New Zealand whitewashes India Pakistan screams to the top spot.
India is at a distant fifth position while WT20 champions West Indies and runners-up England are placed at third and fourth positions respectively in the rankings. They also have a difference of just one point which goes on to portray the competitiveness in this format.
The champions #PAKvSL _ pic.twitter.com/9tk58PoXmA
— PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) October 29, 2017
Pakistan has been playing good cricket this year. Earlier in the year, they won the ICC Champions Trophy beating arch-rivals India in the finals.
Meanwhile, PCB chairman Najam Sethi made the announcement saying, “All five full members of the ICC i.e. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will compete in the vent while one team would be selected in a qualifying round.”
