South Africa tops ICC ODI team rankings, India third after annual update
The annual update for the latest ICC ODI rankings has been released, with South Africa occupying the top position after the May 1 cut-off. The annual update is carried out in such a way that the current and recent forms of the teams are taken into account and older records are phased out.
South Africa is followed by Australia, who are five points behind them, and India, who took a five place leap to go over New Zealand and reach the second spot. India, winners of the previous edition of the ICC Champions Trophy (in 2013), will return to defend the title with 117 points currently in their kitty.
England, as well as the next seventh-highest, ranked teams, will qualify for the ICC World Cup in 2019, which means that Pakistan’s (currently ranked eighth) lead over West Indies (ranked ninth), might prove decisive for their qualification. Bangladesh is currently placed at No.7, just below Sri Lanka at 6, but both teams have lost points as well. England occupies the fifth spot, having retained the spot but gained one point on their way to 109 overall points.
Performances in the Champions Trophy as well as those until 30th September 2017, will be taken into account to assess the qualification of the top eight teams, with the ICC World Cup Qualifier in 2018 being the other path to qualify. Afghanistan has stayed put at No.10 with 52 points, while Zimbabwe has slipped two points further, remaining at No.11. Ireland follows them at No.12, with 43 points.
In accordance with the current Future Tours Programme, Bangladesh will play a tri-series in Ireland and New Zealand. West Indies will face off against Afghanistan in a three-ODI series in June, before going to England to play five ODIs. Pakistan just has the Champions Trophy to clinch the qualification before the cut-off date.
India start the Champions Trophy against Pakistan, and follow it with matches against Sri Lanka and South Africa in the group stages. They then play West Indies in a five-match ODI series.
Here’s the complete list:
| Rank | Team | Points |
| 1 | SOUTH AFRICA | 123 |
| 2 | AUSTRALIA | 118 |
| 3 | INDIA | 117 |
| 4 | NEW ZEALAND | 115 |
| 5 | ENGLAND | 109 |
| 6 | SRI LANKA | 93 |
| 7 | BANGLADESH | 91 |
| 8 | PAKISTAN | 88 |
| 9 | WEST INDIES | 79 |
| 10 | AFGHANISTAN | 52 |