The race for the top spot in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup rankings is heating up as the Asia Cup approaches its thrilling conclusion in Sri Lanka. Australia’s recent loss to South Africa in the third ODI of their series meant that they no longer hold the top position in the ODI Team Rankings.
With the World Cup scheduled for October 5, both Pakistan and India have a chance to claim the No.1 ranking if they perform well in the upcoming 50-over matches.
Here’s a closer look at the upcoming matches for each team leading up to the World Cup:
Pakistan
- Current ranking: Tied for first place
- Current rating: 118
- Upcoming matches: Sri Lanka (September 14), Potential Asia Cup Final (September 17)
For Pakistan to secure the No.1 ranking, they must win their final Super Four match against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup. Winning this match is crucial to reach the Asia Cup final, and if they also win against India in the final, they could become the top-ranked team before the World Cup. While Pakistan won’t have additional ODI matches between the Asia Cup and the World Cup, their chances could improve if Australia and India lose rating points in the meantime.
Australia
- Current ranking: Tied for first place
- Current rating: 118
- Upcoming matches: South Africa (September 15, September 17), India (September 22, September 24, September 27)
Australia remains in a strong position to compete for the No.1 rank as they seek to bounce back from their recent loss to South Africa. Winning the remaining matches against South Africa would strengthen their chances. However, if they lose two of those matches, it could shift the advantage to Pakistan and India. Australia’s upcoming series in India will play a crucial role in determining the top-ranked team at the start of the World Cup.
