The cancellation of their third ODI against the West Indies in Visakhapatnam due to cyclone ‘hudhud’ has cost India a chance to regain the number one spot even as Australia grabbed the numero uno position in the ICC rankings issued on Monday.
“Australia has surged to the top of the Reliance ICC ODI Team Rankings after completing a 3-0 series victory over Pakistan in the UAE,” the ICC said in a statement.
Sunday’s dramatic one-run victory in Abu Dhabi and the cancellation of the third ODI between India and the West has ensured top billing for George Bailey’s side as the race to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 heats up among some of the top-ranked sides.
The cancellation of Tuesday’s ODI between India and the West Indies in Visakhapatnam means India cannot leapfrog Australia even if they win the remaining two matches in Dharamshala and Kolkata on October 17 and 20 respectively.
ranking means nothing for World Cup: Bailey
Abu Dhabi: Australia’s stand-in captain George Bailey admits that regaining the number one ranking will count for nothing once they launch their assault on the World Cup on home soil in February. “You’re trying to win every game you play. As a team, a whitewash is what you want,” said Bailey, who has been standing in for injured skipper Michael Clarke. “It’s lovely to be ranked number one in the world but come the World Cup, I think, it will have zero bearing. It means nothing.”
India-WI players to meet the Dalai lama
Dharamsala: Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai lama will bless the India and West Indies cricketers ahead of the fourth ODI at the scenic HPCA stadium here on October 17. “It is a great honour for us that His Holiness has confirmed his presence for the match. He is usually travelling around the world but this time he happens to be in the country,” Sanjay Sharma, spokesperson at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA), said. Talking more about his visit, Sharma said: “Though His Holiness will not be around for long, he will meet the players on the field right before the start of the match and tie Tibetan scarves around the players’ neck”.
IPl GC Meeting in Kolkata on Oct 20
Kolkata: The schedule of the eighth edition of the IPl is likely to be announced at its Governing Council meeting to be held in the city ahead of India-West Indies final ODI here on October 20. With Kolkata Knight Riders being the defending champions, the city will once again get to host the inaugural ceremony which is likely to be held in Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan that hosted a grand ISl kickoff on Sunday. “We will finalise the venue in the meeting. Definitely the Salt lake stadium is very much in our mind but we will also look out for other options,” CAB joint secretary Subir Ganguly, who is also an IPl GC member, said.
Simmons ruled out
New Delhi: Batsman lendl Simmons has been ruled out of the remainder of West Indies’ tour of India due to a back injury. Simmons will return to Trinidad & Tobago to continue his rehabilitation, according to the West Indies Cricket Board. The batsman was not picked in the playing XI for the first two ODIs and had only played a practice game against India A on the tour. The WICB is expected to announce a replacement for Simmons in the coming days.