Cricket: Pakistan 7th despite playing two T20 finals
Rankings released, world champions England on top.
DUBAI:
Pakistan are placed seventh in the inaugural Twenty20 rankings announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) yesterday.
The 2009 World Twenty20 winners have garnered 97 points in the rankings for cricket’s shortest format with reigning champions England sitting on top with 127 points and Sri Lanka one point behind in second. Only six points separate the next four sides with New Zealand on third with 117, followed by South Africa (113) and 2007 World Twenty20 winners India fifth with 112. Australia are placed sixth with 111.
The ICC General Manager David Richardson said the rankings will give the most popular format of the game more significance.
“The launch of Twenty20 rankings will generate even more interest in the shortest format and will help give more context to bilateral matches,” he said. “We have rankings for Tests and One-Day Internationals so these rankings are a new addition and will help us draw the seedings for the next World Twenty20.”
England’s Eoin Morgan tops the Twenty20 players’ rankings in the batting department, while Ajantha Mendis of Sri Lanka is the top bowler. Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal is ranked third in the bowlers’ rankings. The all-rounders’ list is headed by Australia’s Shane Watson, with former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi coming in second. Opener Mohammad Hafeez is ranked third in the all-rounders’ standings. Abdul Razzaq is placed 10th.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 25th, 2011.
Pakistan are placed seventh in the inaugural Twenty20 rankings announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) yesterday.
The 2009 World Twenty20 winners have garnered 97 points in the rankings for cricket’s shortest format with reigning champions England sitting on top with 127 points and Sri Lanka one point behind in second. Only six points separate the next four sides with New Zealand on third with 117, followed by South Africa (113) and 2007 World Twenty20 winners India fifth with 112. Australia are placed sixth with 111.
The ICC General Manager David Richardson said the rankings will give the most popular format of the game more significance.
“The launch of Twenty20 rankings will generate even more interest in the shortest format and will help give more context to bilateral matches,” he said. “We have rankings for Tests and One-Day Internationals so these rankings are a new addition and will help us draw the seedings for the next World Twenty20.”
England’s Eoin Morgan tops the Twenty20 players’ rankings in the batting department, while Ajantha Mendis of Sri Lanka is the top bowler. Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal is ranked third in the bowlers’ rankings. The all-rounders’ list is headed by Australia’s Shane Watson, with former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi coming in second. Opener Mohammad Hafeez is ranked third in the all-rounders’ standings. Abdul Razzaq is placed 10th.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 25th, 2011.