Agency :
Bangladesh moved to eighth place in Test ranking of International Cricket Council (ICC) for the first time in their cricket history, overtaking West Indies.
After the annual update of Test ranking on May 1, Bangladesh’s points rose to 75, four points, four points higher than that of their rating points on April 30.
West Indies on the other hand lose five points to go down to ninth position with their overall points standing at 67.
Bangladesh are now nine points ahead of West Indies but 11 points behind seventh placed Pakistan, who have 86 points.
India have maintained their hold at the top of the ICC Test Team Rankings and only strengthened their position by increasing the gap at the top following the annual update in which series results from 2014-15 are removed and outcomes from the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons are weighted at 50 per cent. This has seen India’s lead over South Africa stretch from four to 13 points as the Virat Kohli-captained side gained four points to reach an aggregate of 125 while South Africa have lost five points to slip to 112 points.
Despite the drop in points, the Proteas are comfortably ahead of the remaining sides.
Australia are third in the rankings with 106 points having gained four points following the update, stealing the position from New Zealand, who had overtaken them at the last cut-off date of April 3. At that stage, New Zealand had assured themselves of $200,000 by finishing third. Meanwhile, India and South Africa had bagged a $1 million and $500,000 for their first and second finish at the cut-off date. Post the update Tuesday on May 1, New Zealand remain on 102 points while England have bridged the gap by gaining one point to 98 points.
