The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday issued a clarification that Pakistan would hold on to the No1 ranking in T20I cricket despite Australia capturing the Trans-Tasman T20I tri-series.
The ICC had earlier said that the Aussies would overtake Pakistan if they went undefeated in the tri-series, a feat which David Warner’s men achieved on Wednesday with a 19-run victory over New Zealand in the finals via the Duckworth-Lewis system.
In its statement, the global cricket governing body has clarified that their initial calculation was a clerical error and it is indeed Sarfraz Ahmed’s men who will retain the top spot courtesy when decimal points were taken into account.
The ICC statement said that upon rounding-off the points, Australia have 125.65 points compared to Pakistan’s 125.84.
The Aussies had in fact started the T20I series in a lowly seventh position and their rapid rise over the course of the tournament shows how fine the margins are in the shortest format of the international game.
An undefeated run in the Trans-Tasman T20I series draws Australia level with Pakistan; Pakistan ahead on decimal points. https://t.co/sShQ2ZgrM6 #cricket @icc @MRFWorldwide @CricketAus @TheRealPCB
— ICC Media (@ICCMediaComms) February 21, 2018
Pakistan had only recently dislodged the Kiwis from top spot after winning the three-match T20I series by 2-1. Kane Williamson’s men have now dropped to the fourth position, behind India who trail the top two teams by four points.
Virat Kohli’s men could make a significant indent into that lead by cutting it down to just one point if they can whitewash South Africa by 3-0 in the ongoing series.
The Men in Blue had won the first T20I by 28 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the series and will meet the Proteas for the second match later on Wednesday evening at Centurion.
