Cricket-obsessed Pakistanis were on Tuesday celebrating their national team’s “incredible journey” to the top of the Test rankings after a turbulent seven years in which they were forced to play home matches at neutral venues. 1 for less than a week after displacing Australia at the top on August 17.
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The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) has launched an investigation into why the fourth Test match between India and West Indies had to be abandoned due to a wet outfield.
President of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board Azim Bassarath said in a statement they regret that limited play was possible in the final test match.
“We have jointly launched an investigation to determine what occurred with a view to remedying the situation so that this does not occur in the future”. The battle for the number-one ranking between the two traditional rivals will resume in September-October when New Zealand will visit India and Pakistan will host the West Indies in the UAE.
It has been understood that prominent officials of QPCC, who celebrated the 125th anniversary of the club’s foundation over the Test match weekend, were concerned that the abandonment could jeopardise the historic venue’s chances hosting major worldwide matches in the future. India subsequently dropped their multi-million dollar compensation claim against the WICB after the tour was cut short amid a players’ pay dispute.
Pakistan Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq has said achieving top Test ranking for Pakistan for the first time is something to be very proud of and the entire nation is delighted over this special feat.
Pakistan, who are occupying the first place for the first time since the rankings came into existence in 2003, showed tremendous fight to draw level against England in the final Test match.
India’s Test skipper Virat Kohli said that the team is not too much concerned about losing the No.1 position in the longest format of cricket as they don’t play for rankings.
West Indies head coach Phil Simmons has once again bemoaned the consistency of the regional side, following their 2-0 defeat in the four-Test series against India.
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West Indies and India are now going to play two Twenty20 Internationals in Lauderhill, Florida, on August 27 and 28.
