Dubai, Australia’s has ascended to the pinnacle of the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s Test Team Rankings, dethroning India following their 1-1 series draw in South Africa. This achievement comes on the heels of Australia’s recent victory in the ICC World Test Championship 2023, marking another significant milestone in their cricketing dominance.
According to International Cricket Council, Australia’s rise to the top was aided by their successful run at home against Pakistan, which included two wins in as many matches. This performance allowed the Pat Cummins-led team to reclaim the No.1 Test Team spot, a position they had briefly occupied following their World Test Championship Final victory.
Before the latest update, India and Australia were neck-and-neck with a rating of 118 each. Despite having more points, India’s recent draw in their two-Test series against South Africa opened the door for Australia to overtake them in the rankings.
This latest achievement adds to a year of successes for Australian cricket, which includes their triumph in the ICC World Test Championship Final and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. The ongoing third Test between Australia and Pakistan, along with the upcoming five-match Test series between India and England, are set to add more excitement to the Test Team Rankings. These matches are not only crucial for maintaining the top spot but also carry significant points for the ICC World Test Championship.
Dubai, The iconic cricket rivalry between India and Pakistan is set to add another chapter at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, with the two teams scheduled to clash in New York on 9 June. This match promises to be a marquee event in the tournament, held in the West Indies and the USA.
According to International Cricket Council, the upcoming encounter in New York will mark the eighth meeting between India and Pakistan in the history of the Men’s T20 World Cup. The teams have previously faced off seven times, with India winning six of those encounters. Their victories include memorable wins in the 2007 final and a thrilling match in Melbourne in 2022, led by Virat Kohli’s exceptional innings.
Pakistan’s sole victory over India in the T20 World Cup came in 2021 in Dubai, a dominant performance that ended India’s winning streak in World Cups. The last meeting of these teams in the T20 World Cup was in October 2022 at the Melbourne Cricket Stadium. Despite a strong performance by Pakistan, setting a solid target of 160, it was India who triumphed, thanks to Kohli’s heroic 82* off 53 balls, an innings widely regarded as one of the greatest in T20 cricket.
The upcoming clash at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium will be of great significance to both teams, each aiming to end a drought in ICC tournaments. India’s last major ICC tournament victory was the 2013 Champions Trophy, while Pakistan clinched the same title in 2017.
The India-Pakistan showdown in New York is expected to be a highlight of the T20 World Cup 2024, attracting cricket fans worldwide to witness another intense battle in one of the sport’s greatest rivalries.