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SpORTS NOVEMBER 20, 2020 | The Indian Eye 48

india goes down iCC test ranking due

to pandemic as finals at the lord’s in doubt

Australia has toppled the Virat Kohli-led side; England are in the third position

Our Bureau other venue. Too early to get into
Dubai/London the exact details behind this, but
there are certain financial issues
he International Cricket that need immediate resolving
Council (ICC) on Thurs- if the final has to happen at the
Tday confirmed that the Lord’s and at the moment the
ICC World Test Championship clouds are grey is all I can say,”
points system will be amended the source pointed.
due to the COVID-19 pandem- Efforts to get in touch with
ic. The Board approved a recom- ICC, on the same, failed as they
mendation from the ICC Cricket did not respond to ANI’s queries
Committee, headed by former on the matter.
Indian Test skipper Anil Kum- The Test championship has
ble, to change the competition already faced a lot of trouble with
terms for the event to determine The final of the Test Championship may not be played at the Lord's the coronavirus pandemic bring-
how series affected by the glob- ing life to a standstill across the
al pandemic are accounted for globe which also saw bilateral ties
on the points table. The World between teams getting cancelled.
Test Championship table will be The ICC on Thursday confirmed
revised to rank teams based on that the World Test Champi-
the percentage of points earned onship points system will be
from the series played, meaning amended due to the pandemic.
teams will be ranked in order of The Board approved a rec-
percentage of points earned. ommendation from the ICC
India was the leading the Cricket Committee, headed by
points table but with new rules, former Indian Test skipper Anil
Australia has toppled the Virat Kumble, to change the competi-
Kohli-led side as Tim Paine-led tion terms for the event to deter-
side has 82.22 per cent points mine how series affected by the
while India have 75.00 per cent global pandemic are accounted
points. England are in the third for on the points table.
position with 60.83 per cent the pandemic has cost india the top slot in icc rankings The World Test Champion-
points while New Zealand are at ship table will be revised to rank
fourth in the table. date, just under half of the World percentage of points earned. teams based on the percentage
“Both the Cricket Committee Test Championship matches In what could be a huge blow of points earned from the se-
and Chief Executives Commit- have been played, with that es- for the inaugural edition of the ries played, meaning teams will
tee supported the approach of timated to rise to more than 85 World Test Championship, the be ranked in order of percent-
ranking teams based on complet- per cent by the end of the com- International Cricket Council age of points earned. India was
ed matches and points earned as petition window. (ICC) may be forced to move the leading the points table but with
this reflects their performance Current regulations dictate final of the event from the histor- new rules, Australia has toppled
and doesn’t disadvantage teams that matches not completed shall ic Lord’s due to lack of financial the Virat Kohli-led side as Tim
that have been unable to com- be treated as a draw with points agreement between the interna- Paine’s Aussies have 82.22 per
pete all of their matches though split. The Cricket Committee tional body and the English and cent points while India have 75.00
no fault of their own,” ICC Chief considered maintaining that Wales Cricket Board (ECB). per cent points. England are in
Executive Manu Sawhney said in status quo or determining the Speaking to ANI, sources in the the third position with 60.83 per
an official statement. final World Test Championship know of developments said that cent points while New Zealand
“We explored a whole range League standings from matches there have been ongoing discus- are at fourth in the table.
of options, but our members felt played. sions between the ICC and the The Test championship is not
strongly that we should proceed The Cricket Committee rec- ECB, and the situation doesn’t just a project close to the ICC’s
as planned with the first-ever ommended the latter option, look promising at the moment. heart, even stars like Kohli have
World Test Championship Final which was approved by the Chief “We could actually see the fi- made it clear how it is an integral
in June next year,” he added. Executives Committee and rat- nal of the World Test Champion- part of the system, and winning it
The unprecedented disruption ified by the Board, meaning ship set to be held from June 10 would be the ultimate cherry on
caused by COVID-19 means, to teams will be ranked in order of to 14 at the Lord’s moved to an- the cake.

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