ICC One Day International Championship Preview: Bank Alfalah Cup
Sri Lanka will be looking to avenge its recent Sharjah defeat to Pakistan in the opening match of the Bank Alfalah Cup in Dambulla, Sri Lanka from 10th May 2003
ICC Media Release
09-May-2003
Sri Lanka eyes third, New Zealand can climb rankings too
Sri Lanka will be looking to avenge its recent Sharjah defeat to Pakistan in the opening match of the Bank Alfalah Cup in Dambulla, Sri Lanka from 10th May 2003.
The outcome of the seven match tournament - which also includes New Zealand - could have a significant impact on the ICC One Day International Championship table.
Sri Lanka and New Zealand both have an opportunity to improve their ranking while Pakistan needs to perform creditably to hold on to third position.
After a disappointing ICC Cricket World Cup 2003, Pakistan bounced back with victory in the four-nation Cherry Blossom Cup in Sharjah in April and new captain Rashid Latif will be hoping to build on that triumph in Sri Lanka.
In spite of reaching the semi-final of the ICC CWC 2003, defeats to Kenya in that tournament and in Sharjah to Zimbabwe have caused Sri Lankas rating to slide. Sanath Jayasuriya has been replaced by Marvan Atapattu as captain for this series and the new man will need to guide Sri Lanka to more wins than defeats on home soil to prevent it slipping below India to fifth.
New Zealand is the team that will benefit most from a successful tournament. Stephen Flemings side currently has the same rating as England with West Indies only one point ahead. Success in Sri Lanka will enable New Zealand to pull clear of these rivals and close in on the top five.
Team Matches Points Rating Australia 46 6269 136 South Africa 57 6972 122 Pakistan 49 5471 112 Sri Lanka 60 6351 106 India 58 6047 104 West Indies 35 3463 99 New Zealand 45 4431 98 England 34 3337 98 Zimbabwe 44 2844 65 Kenya 25 704 28 Bangladesh 23 101 4
Gundappa Viswanath from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Referees will officiate in all of the matches which take place in Dambulla and Colombo. Simon Taufel and Daryl Harper from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires will stand in alternate matches.