Over the next few days, as the Asia Cup draws to a close and two of the top three teams face off in a bilateral series, the competition to be the top-ranked ODI team at the commencement of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup heats up.
Despite their early withdrawal and India’s crushing victory over Sri Lanka in the championship game, Pakistan still held the top ranking at the end of the 2023 Asia Cup. After losing the series to South Africa, Australia also missed the opportunity to overtake South Africa at the top of the standings.
The Australians had a 2-0 series lead, but the hosts made a stunning comeback and won three straight games to win the series on Sunday.
India’s prospects of reaching the top of the rankings were damaged by their defeat to Bangladesh before the final, and even their record-breaking victory against Sri Lanka, which was completed in less than six overs, did not help them do so.
We examine the games that each team will play before the World Cup kicks off on October 5.
Australia:
Third place at the moment.
Rating at present: 113
India will play on September 22, September 24, and September 27.
After losing to South Africa in a series, Australia is no longer in contention to be the top-ranked team at the commencement of the World Cup. In order to enter the World Cup as the top-ranked team, they will need to completely destroy India in the series.
However, if Australia wins the first two games of the series, they will overtake all other teams in the rankings—at least until the final ODI.
The three-match series between Australia and India at the end of this month will then significantly influence who will be ranked first at the start of the World Cup.
India:
Present standing: 2
Rating at present: 115
Australia is scheduled to play on September 22, September 24, and September 27.
If India can defeat Australia at home in the series beginning on September 22, they will be in a great position to overtake Australia at the top of the rankings. In fact, if India wins the opening ODI, they would surpass Pakistan and take the top spot across all three forms of the game.
After winning the Asia Cup in dramatic fashion, Rohit Sharma’s team might overtake Australia in the opening ODI in Mohali on Friday of the following week and take over as the No. 1 team.
Similar to Australia, India’s forthcoming three-match series against Pat Cummins’ team might be crucial in determining which team holds the No. 1 ranking going into the World Cup.
Pakistan would continue to be the top-ranked team for the World Cup even if India manages to avoid a whitewash but still loses the series to Australia. India would drop to third place, and Australia would take the top spot if Australia defeated India 3-0.
Pakistan:
Present standing: 1
Rating at present: 115
No games are scheduled before the World Cup.
After losing to Sri Lanka in their final Super Four match of the Asia Cup, Pakistan’s chances of holding the top spot at the commencement of the World Cup were severely damaged.
Pakistan does not have any official ODI matches scheduled before the World Cup, so the outcome of the India-Australia series will be crucial to their chances of qualifying for the competition in the first place.
They could yet regain the number one spot if Australia and India keep dropping matches, but given that these two sides are due to face off at the end of the month, one of them would retake the top spot.
