ICC ranking unjust and unfair to performing teams: Qadir

Lahore: Former Pakistan Test leg-spinner and ex-chief selector, Abdul Qadir has criticised the rankings system of the international cricket council and said it was unjust and unfair to many performing teams.

"The criteria for the rankings system is flawed and it is unjust to many teams," he said today. "This entire rankings system of the ICC that is revised after every series and even matches is strange and unjust. It makes no sense in what basis the points are awarded to teams," he added. Qadir, who resigned as chief selector in 2009 after issues with the board, said it was strange that teams who had given good performances saw little change in their ranking points, while other big teams who kept on losing several matches saw little difference in their rankings points. "Many teams despite top consistent performances see little progress in their rankings in the ICC table while other teams despite losing consistently remain in the top," he added. Qadir`s complaints apparently are based on the fact that Pakistan despite whitewashing England 3-0 in the recent test series after remaining unbeaten in a test series in 2011 have not moved beyond their fifth spot ranking while other top teams particularly India despite losing eight tests on a trot remain in the top rankings. "I don`t understand what sort of ranking system is this that despite beating the world`s top side Pakistan`s ranking remains the same while England remains at number one position," he added. Qadir said there was a need for the ICC to make their rankings system more transparent and further improve it. "In my opinion instead of giving rankings point on series to series basis the performance of a team throughout a year should be the criteria for deciding its standing in the working rankings," he said. He said deciding rankings of players should also be based on yearly performances. Some other former Pakistani players have also criticized the ICC rankings system with former test captain Javed Miandad recently insisting that only that team deserved to be become the world`s top side that had won Tests on home and away basis. Miandad had criticised the number one ranking spot given to England pointing out that they are yet to win anything in the subcontinent. PTI