Five-time ODI World Champions Australia have retained their no.1 spot in International Cricket Council's (ICC) Men's ODI rankings but India have slipped to third position below Pakistan without playing a single ODI since March 22. In the annual update, Australia have gained five rating points (118), slightly ahead of Pakistan (116 points) and India (115 points).
The reason behind India's slip in rankings is that all series completed before May 2022 have 50 per cent weightage whereas the ones after have 100 per cent weightage, as per ICC’s media release. Overall, the annual rankings consider all the matches being played since May 2020.
Hence, Pakistan's 4-0 loss to England has not been taking into consideration. Also, their 3-0 loss to England in 2021 has a reduced weightage. Meanwhile, India's rating points have been affected by the 2-1 series loss against Australia.
Pakistan have a change to remain at the top of the rankings despite the difference in weightage. However, Babar Azam-led Pakistan failed to win the fifth ODI against New Zealand to complete clean sweep and slipped to second place.
There has been major shuffle in the top 10 apart from top three. New Zealand have taken current ODI World Champions England's place to climb to the fourth place with 104 points. England's rating dropped 10 points as their ICC Men's World Cup win no longer counted.
South Africa (101) and Bangladesh (97) remained in sixth and seventh place. However, Afghanistan leapfrogged Sri Lanka and West Indies to occupy the eighth spot as they gained 17 rating points (88). Sri Lanka are just behind with 86 points followed by West Indies who had the same rating of 72 as before.
Bangladesh have a chance to gain few points as they have two more ODIs to go in the third ODI series against Ireland in England. Just after the completion of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, Afghanistan will have a chance to extend their lead over Sri Lanka in the three-ODI series starting June 2. Also, West Indies will take on United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a bid to qualify directly for ODI World Cup 2023 in India later this year.
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