Battle for the last spot- ICC Champions Trophy 2017

Battle for the last spot- ICC Champions Trophy 2017: The latest ICC rankings show an interesting battle developing between Pakistan and West Indies for qualifying for the 2017 Champions Trophy. ICC Champions Trophy will take place in 2017 in England but as per an ICC ruling the qualification is to be decided before September 30. It is a tournament where the top eight teams in the ICC ODI rankings as on 30th September 2015 will qualify for the ICC Champions Trophy 2017.

The top eight will come together to fight for the trophy over a period of two weeks from 1st June 2017 till 19th of June. The current format is that the teams play a round robin tournament to enter the final knock out games decide the Champion. It is the shortest tournament to be played as associate nations are not entertained. India won the 2013 edition of the Champions Trophy by defeating England in the final. As things stand today, Bangladesh (93 pts) , West Indies(88 pts) and Pakistan(87 pts).

Bangladesh have qualified for the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 following their 2-0 series win against India. Their tremendous performance in the series against India has earned them a spot in the spot ahead of Pakistan and West Indies. A roaring pace bowling show by Mustafizur Rahman has given Bangladesh a first-ever series win over India.

The Bangladesh tigers have played well in the last few months as they put up a spirited show in the group stages of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 to make it to the knockouts for the first time, they surprised the world by whitewashing Pakistan which was considered the better team at the start of the series 3-0. Bangladesh will now play a three match ODI series against fourth-ranked South Africa, while Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka in a five-match ODI series after the ongoing Tests.

So now the fight is between Pakistan and West Indies for the eighth spot. Pakistan have a chance to edge ahead as they will play a five match ODI series against Sri Lanka before the deadline. It will be a really crucial one for them as they have already messed it up by losing to Bangladesh. After their 0-3 humiliation against Bangladesh, Pakistan’s ODI rankings took a blow. Currently Azhar Ali’s team is ranked No. 9 in ICC ODI rankings with 87 points. After a below-par World Cup and a surprising whitewash at the hands of Bangladesh has left the Pakistan fighting for a place in the top 8.

West Indies, who are ranked seventh, currently will join Pakistan and Zimbabwe for a tri-series in Zimbabwe also scheduled before the end of September. It will give the Caribbean team a chance as well and could well be a deal for Pakistan to beat them there and walk into the Champions trophy undisputed.

According to the rankings rules, team ratings improve after win over a stronger team and according to this rule if Pakistan team beats Sri Lanka in ODI series by a 3-2 margin, then Pakistan make their qualification case stronger, but a loss would probably give West Indies a spot in the ICC Champions Trophy, 2017. So the ODI Series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka is important for both Pakistan as well as West Indies. Following which the equation and meaning of the upcoming series in Zimbabwe will enhance even further.

What the coming couple of months have in store will unveil with time but what it certainly promises is, the two teams will leave no stone unturned to book a spot in the best 8 ranked ODI teams, before it’s a bit too late.

Latest ICC ODI Team Rankings – (HERE)