Players eye ranking with ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in mind

With five of the six teams in the Asia Cup to feature in next year’s mega event, the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Shakib Al Hasan and Babar Azam are excited at the prospect of being pitted against the best of the region in the 15-28 September tournament in the United Arab Emirates.

The Asia Cup commences with a match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Dubai on Saturday. Afghanistan, qualifiers Hong Kong, India and Pakistan get into action later as they try to qualify for the Super Four stage and get more tournament practice with just eight months to go for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in England and Wales from  May 30  to July 14.

India fast bowler Bumrah, who has a lead of 20 points over Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan, is looking to maintain his top position while Pakistan batsman Babar is hoping to bridge the big gap with Virat Kohli, who is not playing in this tournament. Similarly, Bangladesh’s Shakib is aiming to be at his best and show everyone why he is top-ranked among all-rounders.

Several openers who figure prominently in the rankings will be seen in action, including the India pair of Rohit Sharma (fourth) and Shikhar Dhawan (ninth), Bangladesh’s Tamim Iqbal (12th) and Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman (16th).

Among bowlers, Pakistan’s Hasan Ali is looking to claw his way back two spots to number one, while India spinners Kuldeep Yadav (sixth) and Yuzvendra Chahal (joint-ninth) are the others in the top 10.

In the MRF Tyres ICC ODI Team Rankings, India are the top-ranked side in the tournament. They are presently second with 121 points, six points behind England, while Pakistan are in fifth position and 104 points.

India, Pakistan and Hong Kong are in Group A while Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka form Group B for the preliminary stage. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Fours with the top two sides from there making the final.

Aghanistan captain Asghar Afghan: “We are looking forward to playing in front of the UAE crowds as we prepare for the World Cup. We have a lot of fans here who will be following our fortunes.

“It is a chance for the team to gather ranking points on the ODI table and also to improve our individual rankings. We look forward to playing good, competitive cricket against good sides in the Asia Cup.”

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza: “We have some great recent memories of the Asia Cup. We have been finalists in two of the last three events and on rankings we are the third best ODI team in Asia. That will inspire us and give us confidence as we get ready to play against some very tough sides.

“The ICC Cricket World Cup is what everyone is looking forward to with enthusiasm and this will help us prepare well with so many from here playing in the mega event next year.”

Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed: “This tournament is a great chance for us to rise up in the ICC ODI team rankings, especially since the ICC Cricket World Cup is not very far away.

“Half the teams who will feature in the World Cup are participating in the Asia Cup so it is a great chance for us to see where we stand. We have sweet memories of the ICC Champions Trophy last year but we have new challenges ahead.”

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews: “This continental tournament gives us a chance to test ourselves against some good sides and also prepare for the ICC Cricket World Cup in the process.

“There are three higher ranked oppositions in the fray and it is a good chance to also move up in the ICC ODI rankings.”

Top-ranked bowler Jasprit Bumrah of India: “The Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates is going to be huge and I’m really looking forward to doing my best here.

“Being at the top of the ICC rankings is a matter of great pride for me. We will be playing against some leading players and I know the conditions can be challenging but I’m hoping to be at my best."

Top-ranked all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh: “This continental tournament pits some leading players against each other and I’m sure fans would be hoping for some top-class action.

“It’s an honour to be the top-ranked all-rounder in ODIs and I am hoping to be at my best during the tournament.”

Second-ranked batsman Babar Azam of Pakistan: “We as a team are looking forward to the Asia Cup and I have some extra incentive in my individual ranking.

“I know Virat is way ahead in terms of rating points but this is definitely a chance to consolidate my position at number two and gain some valuable ranking points.”

Third-ranked bowler Hasan Ali of Pakistan: “The Asia Cup is going to be a well-fought tournament and an opportunity for a lot of our players.

“I have been top-ranked in the format earlier and will give it my best shot to try and reach the summit once again. This tournament provides me with a chance to work towards that objective.”

MRF Tyres ICC ODI Player Rankings (as of 13 September, before the Asia Cup):

BATSMEN (top 20)

Rank     Player                 Team       Points   Avge     Highest Rating

   1         Virat Kohli            Ind         911!      58.20     911 v Eng at Headingley 2018

   2         Babar Azam         Pak        825       54.80     846 v NZ at Wellington 2018

   3         Joe Root              Eng        818       51.61     819 v Aus at Brisbane 2018

   4         Rohit Sharma       Ind         806       44.98     825 v SL at Mohali 2017

   5         David Warner       Aus        803       43.43     880 v Pak at Adelaide 2017

   6         Ross Taylor          NZ          785       46.28     789 v Eng at Dunedin 2018

   7         Quinton de Kock  SA          781       45.25     808 v Ban at East London 2017

   8         Kane Williamson  NZ          778       46.87     798 v SA at Centurion 2015

   9         Shikhar Dhawan  Ind         770       45.72     794 v SA at Melbourne 2015

  10        Jonny Bairstow    Eng        769       50.30     777 v Aus at Durham 2018

  11        Faf du Plessis      SA          766       44.40     802 v Ind at Durban 2018

  12        Tamim Iqbal         Ban        737!      36.23     737 v Win at St Kitts 2018

  13        Martin Guptill        NZ          731       42.99     789 v SA at Hamilton 2017

  14        Hashim Amla       SA          729       49.65     901 v Eng at Trent Bridge 2012

  15        MS Dhoni             Ind         714       51.25     836 v Aus at Delhi 2009

  16        Fakhar Zaman     Pak        713*!     76.07     713 v Zim at Bulawayo 2018

  17        Aaron Finch         Aus        706       38.19     744 v Eng at Melbourne 2015

  18        Jos Buttler            Eng        701       40.35     723 v Ban at Mirpur 2016

  19        Steve Smith         Aus        675       41.84     752 v Pak at Sydney 2017

  20=      Travis Head         Aus        670*!     37.00     670 v Eng at Old Trafford 2018

              Jason Roy            Eng        670       39.06     680 v Aus at Durham 2018

BOWLERS (top 20)

Rank      Player                 Team     Points    Avge      Eco.       Highest Rating

   1         Jasprit Bumrah     Ind         775*      22.50     4.64      787 v SA at Centurion 2018

   2         Rashid Khan        Afg         755       14.22     3.92      787 v Zim at Sharjah 2018

   3         Hasan Ali             Pak        742*      20.88     5.21      766 v NZ at Wellington 2018

   4         Trent Boult           NZ          699       24.63     5.09      766 v Ind at Delhi 2016

   5         Josh Hazlewood  Aus        696       24.27     4.72      733 v Eng at Adelaide 2018

   6         Kuldeep Yadav    Ind         684*      19.35     4.82      698 v Eng at Lord's 2018

   7         Adil Rashid           Eng        681!      30.80     5.52      681 v Ind at Headingley 2018

   8         Kagiso Rabada    SA          676       27.62     5.09      724 v Eng at Lord's 2017

   9=       Imran Tahir          SA          666       24.81     4.68      786 v SL at Johannesburg 2017

              Y.Chahal              Ind         666*      23.86     4.72      668 v Eng at Lord's 2018

  11        Chris Woakes      Eng        643       30.77     5.50      673 v NZ at Christchurch 2018

  12        Mitchell Starc       Aus        642       20.95     4.93      783 v NZ at Melbourne 2015

  13        Mitchell Santner   NZ          632       33.91     4.90      663 v Eng at Hamilton 2018

  14        Moeen Ali             Eng        621       45.08     5.09      629 v Aus at Old Trafford 2018

  15        Akshar Patel        Ind         615*      31.31     4.43      663 v Aus at Nagpur 2017

  16        M. Rahman          Ban        609*      20.01     4.71      610 v Win at Guyana 2018

  17        Mohammad Nabi Afg         608       31.16     4.28      653 v Zim at Harare 2017

  18        Pat Cummins       Aus        607       28.45    5.38      626 v Eng at Adelaide 2018

  19=      M. Mortaza           Ban        606       30.87    4.78      653 v Zim at Mirpur 2009

              Matt Henry           NZ          606       24.59    5.57      675 v Aus at Hamilton 2016

ALL-ROUNDERS (top five)

Rank      Player                 Team     Points    Highest Rating

   1         Shakib Al Hasan  Ban        362       453 v Zim at Chittagong 2009

   2         M. Hafeez            Pak        322       438 v Ind at Kolkata 2013

   3         Mitchell Santner   NZ          317!      317 v Eng at Christchurch 2018

   4         M. Nabi                Afg         316       349 v Ire at Greater Noida 2017

   5         A. Mathews          SL          305       427 v Eng at Colombo (RPS) 2014