Dubai, May 1:
India have become the number-one ranked Twenty20 International (T20I) side after the annual update of the Reliance ICC T20I Team Rankings, which was announced on Thursday.
India have swapped places with ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 champions Sri Lanka. In the past 12 months, India have lost just one T20I (against Sri Lanka in the recent ICC WT20 Final in Bangladesh), while Sri Lanka have lost four matches. The 2013-2014 results are weighted at 100 per cent whereas, the results in 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 are now weighted at 50 per cent. Therefore, Sri Lanka’s strong performances in those two earlier years now count for less. According to ranking announced by International Cricket Council, in the other major change, the West Indies have slipped two places. This drop has moved Australia and New Zealand up by one place each.
The updated table now reflects all T20I matches completed after 1 August 2011. All T20I matches played until the start of May 2015 will be added to this table, so that by May 2015, the ratings will be based on just under four years of results.
In all 14 countries have played sufficient T20I matches to be ranked on the table. Three countries are unranked, as they haven’t played the minimum number of eight matches during the rankings period, but do have a rating. (PTI)