ACB hails entry into main ICC rankings table

KABUL entry into the main Reliance ICC ODI Team Rankings table for the first time ever, calling it a big achievement.

ACB chairman Shahzada Massoud said cricket had progressed a lot in Afghanistan, hoping the national squad would keep moving upward in international rankings.

He attributed the development to unprecedented achievements made by the national cricket team and efforts by the board. 

Afghanistan’s entry into the main ranking table comes nearly six months after the team qualified for its maiden appearance at an ICC Cricket World Cup.

Following Afghanistan’s 32-runs win over Bangladesh on Saturday in the Asia Cup at Fatullah, its first against a Full Member side, it has met the criteria for inclusion in the main ranking table.

Afghanistan join the table in 12th place with 32 ratings points, with the opportunity to slide past 11th-placed Ireland should it win either of its two remaining Asia Cup group matches.

Afghanistan immediately achieved a ranking upon entry into the table, having played 12 ODIs since August 2010, with the minimum requirement being eight matches.

In 2010, Afghanistan qualified for the ICC World Twenty20 West Indies 2010 by winning the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier UAE 2010.

It then finished second to Ireland in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier UAE 2012 to qualify for the ICC World Twenty20 Sri Lanka 2012.

Afghanistan finished runner-up a second time to Ireland at the qualifying event in 2013 to make it to the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014.

Afghanistan has also played in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2010 in New Zealand, the 2012 edition in Australia, and, most recently, finished seventh in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in 2014.

mm/ma

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