Bangladesh surge past West Indies to seventh spot in ODI ranking

Bangladesh have bettered their chances of securing Champions Trophy qualification after their brilliant win over India in the first ODI took them to seventh spot in the ICC ranking.

Mustafizur Rahman’s five-wicket haul on debut helped the Tigers outplay the two-time world champions by 79 runs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Thursday.

The hosts made an impressive 307 after electing to bat first before their bowlers bundled out India for 228 to take a 1-0 lead in the series in style.

The win took Mashrafe Bin Mortaza’s side past West Indies in the ODI team ranking.

Both Bangladesh and West Indies had 88 points before the match but the Caribbeans were ahead by fractions.

The top eight ODI teams will take part in the next Champions Trophy that will be held from Jun 1 to 19, 2017 in England and Wales.

Bangladesh will qualify for the competition if they retain their place in the top eight until Sep 30 this year.

As a result, the qualification battle is mainly between Bangladesh, West Indies and Pakistan at the bottom half of the list.

West Indies have been reduced to the role of spectators with no ODI scheduled before September. Their chances depend on performance of the others.

Bangladesh are set to play fourth-ranked South Africa after the series with India, while Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka in a five-match series after the ongoing Tests.

These series will decide the Champions Trophy fate of the three sides.

Bangladesh, however, can secure a place in the competition by winning any one of the five remaining matches before September - the remaining two against India and three against South Africa.

Imagine BAN ahead of WI in the rankings !!!!  ....... Writing on the wall !!  WI done !!!!  :-[ :-[