By IANS
Dubai : India have a chance of getting past New Zealand to occupy the third place in the International Cricket Council (ICC) one-day (ODI) championship table, if they win all their remaining matches in the Commonwealth Bank tri-series in Australia.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s side is currently at fourth place with 110 rating points, just three points behind New Zealand, but could leapfrog them by winning all the remaining matches of the tri-series, which would push the Black Caps to the fourth spot.
By doing so, Dhoni’s men will be helping their cause as the seedings cut-off date for September’s ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan approaches fast.
The rankings of the top eight teams on the cut-off date, March 12, will dictate the make-up of the two groups for the big event.
If India loses one game it will still join New Zealand on 113 rating points but will stay behind them when the points are calculated beyond the decimal point.
In sharp contrast, defeat in all the remaining four matches Down Under will see the Twenty20 champions slide down to the sixth spot behind Pakistan.
LG ICC ODI Championship Ranking (on Feb 23):
1. Australia (131 rating points)
2. South Africa (127 points)
3. New Zealand (113 points)
4. India (110 points)
5. Pakistan (109 points)
6. Sri Lanka (107 points)
7. England (105 points)
8. West Indies (96 points)
9. Bangladesh (47 points)
10. Ireland (28 points)
11. Zimbabwe (18 points)
12. Kenya (0 points)