ICC announced the changes in the rules to determine the final standings on the WTC points table on Thursday. As per the rules, Australia have gone ahead of India on the points table. The new rules state that the standings will be decided on the percentage of points.
The ICC cricket committee which is headed by Anil Kumble made this decision after long thought. Several series were affected due the COVID-19 pandemic. Less than 50 percent series have been played till now with the completion period coming closer. It is expected than only 85 percent of the series will be played than expected.
The ICC chief executive Manu Sawhney said that both the cricket committee and the chief executives committee gave this a fair thought and came to this decision. Multiple ways were been discussed to ensure a fair chance to each team and eventually this decision was finalised. The ICC members were all in favour to go with the pre planned schedule to host the first ever WTC in June 2021. The equation by which this is decided is pretty simple, Points won by a team/ Points contested *100.
The ICC believes that this new rule won’t affect the way cricket is being played and they expect an exciting next six months phase as there is chance for every team to make it into the finals of the WTC. India is set to play against Australia in the next series and to play against England at home. Australia is set to play against South Africa away after the series against India at home.
New Zealand is set to host series against the West Indies and Pakistan. India will play the first test against Australia on 17 December.
