The West Indies have received a big boost in the ICC Men’s T20I team rankings ahead of the much-awaited ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
The co-hosts head into the main event with plenty of confidence thanks to a 3-0 win over South Africa. The West Indies prepared for the T20 World Cup by comprehensively beating the Proteas in the three-match series. They won the first game by 28 runs after scoring 175/8 and defeating the visitors for just 147.
In the second game, the West Indies emerged victorious by 16 runs to clinch the series with one match remaining. After scoring 207/7, the hosts restricted the visitors to 191/7. And in the third game, West Indies thrashed South Africa by 8 wickets. After South Africa scored 163/7 in the allotted 20 overs, the Caribbean team chased them down within 14 overs losing only a couple of wickets.
West Indies rise in ICC rankings:
Thanks to the 3-0 victory over South Africa, the West Indies have risen to fourth place in the ICC rankings. They were in sixth place before the start of the series and will now enter the World Cup as one of the top four teams in the world. On the other hand, South Africa has fallen from fourth to seventh place.
Team India is currently at the top of the rankings with 264 rating points and is followed by Australia (257 rating points) and England (254 rating points) in second and third place respectively. The West Indies are in fourth place with 252 rating points. New Zealand (250 rating points) completes the top five.
The West Indies are hoping for a triumphant campaign in the T20 World Cup, scheduled to be played in the Caribbean and the United States from June 1-29. They have a chance to become the first team to win the T20 World Cup at home. The West Indies can also become the first team to win the tournament three times.
The co-hosts are in Group C along with New Zealand, Afghanistan, Uganda, Oman and Papua New Guinea. They will open their campaign against Papua New Guinea on June 2.