The International Cricket Council (ICC) has added four ODI nations, including Nepal, to the expanded MRF Tyres ICC ODI Team Rankings with effect from June 1, 2018.
Nepal, Scotland, the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) joined the 12 leading ODI nations on the rankings; however, Nepal and the Netherlands will need to play four more matches to be featured in the rank. The Netherlands have 13 rating points and Nepal have 0 ratings point currently.
The initial rankings for the four new teams are based on: all ODIs played since May 2015 by Scotland and the UAE against Full Members and against each other; Non-ODIs played by the Netherlands and Nepal against Full Members, Scotland and the UAE as part of the ICC World Cup Qualifying tournament 2018.
This elevation means all ODIs these four sides will play against other sides on the table henceforth will count towards a team’s rating points and performance in the rankings table.
The Netherlands secured ODI status and a place in the 13-team ODI league by winning the ICC World Cricket League Championship last year, while Scotland, Nepal and the UAE earned ODI status by finishing as the three leading Associates (along with the Dutch) in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018.
Scotland have been ranked in 13th place on 28 points – 10 points behind 12th ranked Ireland – while the UAE are another 10 points behind on 18 in 14th position.
Teams earn points from each match they play against oppositions with an ODI rating. Points and matches played between 1 May 2015 and 30 April 2017 will be weighted at 50 per cent, whereas matches played after 1 May 2017 will be weighted at 100 per cent.
The positions of the 12 Test playing countries, who were already on the table, are not affected by the introduction of these new teams on the table.
The table is headed by England, who will host next year’s ICC Cricket World Cup. India are ranked second, three points behind England, while ICC Champions Trophy winners Pakistan are in sixth place.
South Africa, New Zealand and Australia are ranked third, fourth and fifth. Bangladesh is ranked seventh, ahead of Sri Lanka, which is ranked eighth. West Indies and Afghanistan are also in top 10 followed by Zimbabwe and Ireland.